Ash Vale Residents Call For Firm Action To Stop Catapult Attacks on Canal Wildlife

Published on: 12 May, 2025
Updated on: 14 May, 2025

A coot on Stoke Lake. Malcolm Fincham

By David Reading

Residents angered by catapult attacks against wildfowl on the Basingstoke Canal at Ash Vale have called a public meeting to be held this week to discuss action to stop the culprits.

In the latest suspected attack, a coot was found dead floating next to its nest. According to a post on social media, a witness had seen it catapulted.

Another post reported a further incident: “Two men with catapults were firing at wildfowl on Mytchett Lake at 1910hrs this evening (Thursday, May 8). Both late teens/early twenties, one wearing a long, black padded jacket.”

The witness called Surrey Police and they responded immediately.

The Basingstoke Canal at Ash Vale

In mid-April, The Dragon reported that four teenagers with catapults had been firing at ducks on the canal at Ash Vale, seriously injuring one of them. Since then, in similar attacks at Fleet Pond, a goose is reported to have been killed and a swan seriously injured.

Surrey police confirmed they had received a report of the Ash Vale incident and an investigation had been launched to try to identify the culprits.

But a police spokesperson has since told The Guildford Dragon about the difficulties they face in identifying the criminals without hard evidence. Any witnesses to attacks have been urged to dial 999 immediately.

The attacks have caused considerable distress and anger on social media, with local people commenting that they are “heartbreaking”, “so cruel” and “sickening”.

Residents have arranged a meeting for the evening of Thursday, May 15 at St Mary’s Church Hall, Ash Vale, to discuss what action can be taken to stop the attacks.

Meanwhile Daniel Rogers, a wildlife rescuer from Camberley, has launched a petition urging the Government to make it illegal to carry a catapult in public places. He has reported a large increase in reports of youths attacking wildlife with catapults – describing it as “a wildlife crime epidemic”.

The attacks on the Basingstoke Canal are certainly not isolated incidents.

A cygnet was injured with a ball bearing at Guilford’s Riverside Park in February 2023. It survived the attack and recovered.

During the weekend the BBC reported that a goose was killed and a swan badly injured in suspected catapult attacks at Fleet Pond.

It was reported that the swan had a large ball bearing embedded in its cheek, and it was lucky to be alive. The report said the swan would require surgery to close the lesion, but the ball bearing had been removed and the wound treated.

The report said the dead goose was found nearby with a similar injury.

Hampshire police have asked anyone with information to come forward.

If Mr Rogers’ petition is successful, it would become illegal to carry catapults in public places, and the police would be able to arrest those carrying them, especially in areas of known wildlife crime, regardless of whether ammunition is found or not.

Today (Monday) the petition had collected more than 23,000 signatures but so far this is well short of the 100,000 needed before the petition can be discussed in Parliament. There is a deadline of May 27.

On the Government’s website Mr Rogers is quoted as saying: “I am a wildlife rescuer and believe we are currently in a wildlife crime pandemic. There has been an increase in reports of wildlife being attacked by groups of youths carrying catapults and ball bearings. Around 75 per cent of my callouts are due to apparent abuse of wildlife offences.

“We think the law needs to change to give the police more powers to arrest those carrying catapults.”

The attack on ducks along the Basingstoke Canal in April was reported at a meeting of Ash Parish Council, where members were discussing anti-social behaviour generally in the Ash area.

Cllr Fiona White

Yesterday Cllr Fiona White, council chair, said: “Like everyone else in our parish, I am very upset by this cruel behaviour. The only way to end it is to identify the people doing it through proper evidence.

“It is important that every incident is reported. Please call 999 immediately if you see people using catapults or other weapons. If something has happened but the people have gone, please report on 101 or online.”

In the UK, birds and other creatures are protected under The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, and offenders can face fines or jail sentences.