The hunt is on after a potential sighting of a stoat on Great Barrier Island, previously considered free of New Zealand's number one predator.
Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation have rallied their teams to hunt down what could be a devastating invader.
Great Barrier Island had been considered free of stoats, and its significant populations of endangered birds could be easy prey for them.
![Biosecurity tracker Woody has been called in to sniff out the stoat on Great Barrier Island. Photo / Auckland Council](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/6CV5NMSEE635IEF3JXIRXY4XE4.jpg?auth=3982dc488422a2b0166f06e5cdcffc9872a196afe72c802792bb813ec00fd925&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
A predator detection dog from the Conservation Dogs programme was called in as soon as the potential sighting was notified.