Somerset has been identified as one of the worst hotspots in the UK for weapon attacks on animals, with the RSPCA highlighting a worrying rise in cases where cats are targeted with air guns.
According to the animal welfare charity, the reported incidents likely represent just “the tip of the iceberg.” New data released by the RSPCA reveals that nearly 500 incidents involving air guns, catapults, and crossbows aimed at various animals were reported nationwide between 2022 and mid-2024.
Somerset ranks among the counties with the highest numbers of these cruel attacks. Leading the list is Kent, followed by Greater London and Durham.
Wild birds have suffered the most from these weapon attacks during this period, with cats being the second most frequent victims. Wild mammals and dogs also face significant threats.
Alarmingly, the RSPCA’s figures show a 30% increase in airgun attacks on cats from 54 cases in 2023 to 70 in 2024. Additionally, catapult-related attacks reported by June 2024 have doubled compared to the same timeframe the previous year.
Geoff Edmond, the RSPCA’s Wildlife Partnerships Manager, expressed deep concern over these figures: “Weapon attacks on animals are horrific, but these numbers likely only scratch the surface. There is growing alarm about catapult attacks on wild birds like swans, yet air guns remain the predominant weapon used against animals.”
He added: “Shooting or harming animals purely for amusement or target practice is abhorrently cruel and unacceptable. Sadly, over the last three years, we’ve received close to 500 reports of weapon attacks on animals. While most people find this behavior shocking, some individuals deliberately inflict pain and suffering on wildlife, pets, and farm animals for ‘fun’—a cruelty that causes severe injury and death.”
This warning coincides with the RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty Appeal, which aims to raise essential funds to assist animals suffering from abuse, including those attacked with weapons. The charity collaborates with police forces and other agencies nationwide. In Kent, authorities recently launched a “Catapult Crackdown” initiative targeting the misuse of catapults to protect both people and wildlife.
Edmond emphasized, “Our frontline officers and animal centers witness the devastating effects of these attacks daily. We are committed to combating this cruelty through enforcement and public awareness."
The latest reported incidents across the UK between 2022 and 2024 are as follows:
Kent: 32
Greater London: 31
Durham: 20
Essex: 18
Cheshire: 16
Hampshire: 16
Nottinghamshire: 16
West Midlands: 16
Greater Manchester: 15
Somerset: 15
West Yorkshire: 15
South Yorkshire: 14
Staffordshire: 14
Lancashire: 12
Merseyside: 12
Berkshire: 11
Cambridgeshire: 11
Dorset: 10
Shropshire: 10
Tyne & Wear: 10