Predator meets match

A wild cat believed to have been killing off the country's rarest bird species is dead - but not before putting up a ferocious fight.

The ginger tomcat was thought to be responsible for eating into the fairy tern population at Mangawhai in Northland for the past two years.

It was killed by Department of Conservation ranger Scott Theobald and his dog Jack on Tuesday.

When Jack bailed it up it ripped his ear which forced the dog to back off. Mr Theobald finished the tom with his shotgun.

But he fears another feral cat will move into the territory.