One of only two native bird species not afforded any level of protection under the Wildlife Act, they are predators and scavengers.

Feral cats live in the wild and are not stray or owned. Black stilt, wrybill and black-fronted terns are greatly impacted by cat predation on braided riverbeds.

Hedgehogs are a major predator on eggs of riverbed breeding birds such as banded dotterel and black-fronted tern and kill and eat chicks of many ground-nesting birds.

Mice are a key food source for stoats and feral cats in the New Zealand bush. When conditions are right and there is plenty of food, their numbers increase rapidly.

They are a major threat to our environment and are widespread in New Zealand. Their own predators do not have much effect on controlling possum numbers.

Three species of rats live in New Zealand. All of them are introduced pests and threaten the long-term survival of native species.

Stoats are devastating for New Zealand birds. They are voracious and relentless hunters, said to have only two reasons for living – to eat and reproduce.

Weasels are predators of native birds, eggs, lizards and insects. They will tackle a prey much larger than themselves and nesting birds are easy targets.