There are numerous, plants, birds and animals and insects that the visitor can observe at Mount Buffalo with little difficulty. Some of the wildlife is nocturnal so what you see will depend on the time of day that you are walking or driving.

 

On the drive up or down

As you travel up the road to the top of  Mount Buffalo you will see a range of wildlife if you are lucky and observant. Wallabies are common along the road at any time of the day but in particular at dawn or dusk. The early drivers will often see lyrebirds feeding at the side or crossing the road (and then running off to safety with wings outspread looking more like a feathered lizard than a bird). In the later evening Wombats are common on the side of the road as are nocturnal birds such as the Tawny Frogmouth and Owls. Bats can be seen hunting along the open spaces and small creatures such as the the antechinus may sometimes cross the road in the lights of the car.

If you stop and let your eyes adjust to the dark on the flat area at Rollasons Falls walk picnic area you may see a Greater Glider soar from one treetop to another or hear Sugar Gliders quarrelling in the foliage. A possum or two may be observed (by their glowing eyes) if you carefully shine a torch into the lower branches of the Alpine Ash.

Flora

The plateau's isolation and harsh alpine climate create an 'island in the sky'. As you ascend the mountain you can see dramatic vegetation changes as you rise in altitude, from the Peppermint forests, through tall stands of alpine ash, snow gum woodlands and sub-alpine grasslands and bogs at the higher altitudes.

In summer carpets of silver snow daisies, yellow billy buttons and royal bluebells bloom on the plateau. The sub-alpine plants on the plateau have all developed a variety of physical and behavioral characteristics to survive the extreme and harsh conditions on the mountains.

Mount Buffalo National Park is also home to three unique plants; Buffalo Sallee, Buffalo sallow wattle and fern-leaf heath myrtle.

Lichen

The granite cliffs and boulders of Mount Buffalo appear multi-coloured and while this is true most of the colours are actually the mosses, lichens and other micro plants that cover the rock. Lichens (while not actually a plant) are found in an amazing range of colours from bright orange through to a range of greens, browns and greys.

Lichens are amazing and were among the first living things to colonize the land. They are not actually a single plant but are composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria (or both) living among filaments of a fungus in a symbiotic relationship. The combined life form has properties that are very different from the properties of its component organisms.

Birds

The Currawong is a common bird at Mount Buffalo in particular at the Gorge where it scavenges from tourists. It also feeds off the moths and other insects attracted by the lights of the Chalet and carpark at night. Like many birds they mostly leave the high ground when the snow arrives. They are gregarious and are often seen in small flocks.

The Lyrebird is a bird a little larger than a domestic chicken with the male having the distinctive lyre tail. The bird is an excellent mimic and can replicate a wide range of natural and man made sounds. The Lyrebird tends to run along the ground and glide short distances when disturbed or threatened but can fly when needed.  The males have dance or display mounds in a defined territory as a part of mating rituals, but the female incubates the eggs alone.

The Crimson Rosella is a medium sized parrot that is common at the Gorge and also seen at the camping ground and other locations. It begs food from tourists and is often seen perching on shoulders and heads of visitors in its effort to obtain part of a biscuit.

The Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo is a large bird often seen in small flocks flying through the treetops in the foothills of the park and occasionally on the plateau. With its large wingspan and harsh cry they are an impressive bird.

The Wedge Tailed Eagle is Australia's largest living bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world. It has a wingspan of up to 2.3 m. Females are larger than males, averaging 4.2 kg in weight. A carnivorous bird requiring an extensive territory they can be seen using the thermals to glide and serch for prey. They have been known to show aggression towards hang-gliders (perhaps thinking that they are competition!).

Other birds you may spot while out walking or picnicking are the Gang Gang Cockatoo, the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Ravens, the Australian (Nankeen) Kestrel, the Peregrine Falcon, the Flame Robin, the Striated Pardalote and more.

Animals

Mount Buffalo is home to many different Australian mammals and reptiles, including the Wombat, the Ring Tailed Possum, the Brush Tailed Possum, the Antechinus, the Greater Glider, the Sugar Glider, the Echidna, Red-Bellied Black Snakes, Brown Snakes, skinks, lizards and more.

Glowworms

Unusually, there are glowworms in the Underground River Cave at Mount Buffalo that are a species that exist nowhere else. Glowworms are a rainforest species and this population seems to have survived on the mountain since past times when ancient forests would have covered the area. Perhaps they have even survived from the days of the dinosaurs? The underground river stream cave is the last place on Mount Buffalo that has the wet, dark and insect laden environment that these creatures need to survive. They are listed as an endangered species by the Government.

The Underground River Cave is too dangerous to enter without experience and the proper equipment (in-cave navigation, helmets, lights etc), but licensed tour operators run guided tours into the cave.

Dingoes

Dingoes have been present and seen at Mount Buffalo for many years. Parks Victoria rangers have recently noticed dingoes in areas popular with visitors. This is likely to be a result of dingoes searching for food. Visitors have also been seen feeding dingoes which encourages them to approach people.

"It's important that visitors do not feed or interact with dingoes as they are wildlife that should not be confused with or treated like domestic pets. Dingoes are listed as a threatened species in Victoria and protected on public land if beyond 3km of private land. The dingoes sighted at Mount Buffalo are beyond 3km of private land." - Julien Atherstone, Area Chief Ranger, Ovens

Parks Victoria supports the wild dog control program that DELWP currently implements at the base of Mount Buffalo to protect livestock from the impact of wild dogs. The Wild dog control program is developed by DELWP in partnership with the community.