Hailsham in East Sussex has become a hotspot for these incidents, many of which are believed to involve high-powered catapults and steel ball bearings.
Hailsham Town Council confirmed the attacks in a statement.
The council said: “Hailsham has become a focal point in recent months for offences involving the use of high-powered catapults to injure and kill birds.”
The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) reported seven recorded incidents in Hailsham since May 2024.
The true figure is believed to be higher.
The organisation is leading a multi-agency response including police called Operation Lakeshot, designed to tackle catapult-enabled wildlife crime through enforcement and awareness.
In May 2025, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) responded to two incidents involving gulls in Hailsham.
A spokesman said an x-ray of the deceased gull revealed “An x-ray of the deceased gull shows a large ball baring from a catapult lodged inside, an injury that would have caused its death.”
The injured gull had “a severe fracture to the coracoid bone” and both birds were believed to be victims of “the same deliberate attack involving a catapult.”
Henfield Parish Council confirmed reports of individuals using catapults at the Tanyard on 18 May, noting legal protections for wildlife under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The League Against Cruel Sports is urging anyone who suspects catapult crimes to report them.
Hailsham Town Council said: “These acts form part of a wider national issue being addressed through Operation Lakeshot – a coordinated initiative involving police and charities aimed at tackling the growing misuse of catapults against wildlife.”
Sharon Davis, a resident, said: “Perhaps the killers would think differently if a high powered catapult was aimed at them.
“So sad.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police or report incidents via the League Against Cruel Sports Animal Crimewatch.
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