A stoat has been killed in a trap on the supposedly pest-free Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.
Photo: 123RF
A Department of Conservation ranger found the stoat in a trap on Emu Point, across from Islington Bay, which connects Motutapu and Rangitoto Island.
Department spokesperson Keith Gell said stoats posed a massive risk to native birds on the island, which include kiwi, takahē and kākāriki.
It was disturbing that the stoat managed to get to the island and its body had been sent to Auckland for DNA analysis to find out where it came from.
Last month the department used predator detection dogs to investigate two reported sightings of a black cat on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands but found no evidence of it.