The “heavy metal” weapon was confiscated by city officials on Saturday morning (February 8th).
It came after seeing officers using catapults to target wildlife around the Foss Basin, North Yorkshire police said.
A Force spokesperson added: “The catapult has been confiscated and parents have been notified.”
They urged parents to “talk your child or teenager about the harm and pain that using catapults and other weapons in this way can cause.”
“This type of behavior can lead to serious injury, suffering and death. If it can cause harm to wildlife, then it can do the same for pets and children.
“Killing wildlife is a crime prosecuted under the Wildlife Act.
“There's Operation Lakeshot, the nationwide operation to tackle the misuse of catapults.”
