Nottinghamshire a hotspot for shocking animal attacks reveals RSPCA England and Wales

New data from the RSPCA reveals that Nottinghamshire ranks among the highest number of cases of lethal weapons used to deliberately target and kill wildlife and pets.

The animal charity has released figures relating to deadly weapons such as crossbows, air guns, catapults and slingshots used on animals over the past four years.

The news follows an appeal for changes in national regulation from a Newark woman whose cat was shot and killed by an air rifle.

From the start of 2020 to May 2023, the RSPCA received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with a weapon.

Air guns and rifles were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, with 658 reports made to the charity — but weapons such as catapults and slingshots accounted for a combined 124 incidents as well as 34 crossbow incidents.

Nottinghamshire was also revealed to be among the counties with the most with 30.

Other hotspot counties include Kent with 56 reports, Greater London with 47, Merseyside with 35 and West Yorkshire and the West Midlands joining Nottinghamshire with 30 each..

UK wildlife bore the brunt of attacks, with 841 wild birds shot by a gun or crossbow or hit by a catapult since the beginning of 2020.

Attacks on pets were also shockingly prevalent, with 262 cats deliberately attacked with weapons, followed by 82 reports on wild mammals, dogs with 59, farm animals with 41 and 26 on equines.

The figures have been released as part of the Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, which aims to raise funds to help frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.

RSPCA national wildlife coordinator, Geoff Edmond, said: “It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for fun or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports.

“We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCA’s experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows.

“These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering.

“Day after day, our frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals — severe injuries often leading to death.

“And what we deal with is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found — especially in the case of wildlife.”

Examples of recent attacks include:

• Air gun — Earlier this year, a buzzard was found shot in the head with an air rifle. Although the pellet missed her eye and skull, the wound had become an abscess and as the bird was emaciated it is likely she had been shot some time ago, preventing her from eating.
• Catapult — Groups of youths were reported repeatedly shooting nesting ducks and swans with catapults.
• Crossbow — A mallard duck miraculously survived a horrifying attack after being shot with a crossbow bolt which had been left lodged in the bird’s head.
• Air gun — Two cats belonging to the same owner were both shot in the face within the space of one month.

More information on what to do if you find an injured wild animal can be found online here: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injured

Geoff added: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is so prevalent in our society.

“Each year, reports of cruelty reach a terrible annual peak in the summer months — and we're braced for another summer of reports about innocent animals being targeted by air rifles, catapults and other deadly weapons.

“We need the help of our supporters so we can cancel out cruelty once and for all.”

The RSPCA has also been campaigning to remove a loophole from national firearm legislation which allows minors unsupervised possession of air weapons on private land.

The UK Government agreed with this proposal and in July 2022 undertook to amend the Firearms Rules 1998 to strengthen controls on access to airguns by minors, but this has yet to occur one year on.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take them except under licence with a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.