The Native Wildlife of the Grampians

Rugged mountain ranges, forested hills, and waterways teeming with life characterise the Grampians. It is abundant in biodiversity and its wildlife unique. Hundreds of varieties of species of its flora and fauna are endemic to the region.
 
Set on a journey into the Grampians and see Australia’s native wildlife in their natural habitat. You can find several hundreds of different varieties of bird species and wild animals. Endemic to the region are the following species: 36 mammals, 35 reptiles, 6 fish, and 13 crustaceans.
 
Common to the Grampians are Australia’s popular native animals that have become national icons. They are the kangaroos, koalas, and emus that roam free in the wilds. You can see them in the grasslands and woodlands.
 
The marsupials are almost everywhere in Halls Gap, the heart of the Grampians. There are over 140 species of marsupial or pouched animal roaming in the wilds of Australia. And they vary in size and weight. Kangaroos are bigger than wallabies, koalas, and wombats.
 
At Halls Gap, you can spot eastern grey and western grey kangaroos roaming freely and grazing. You can also see red-necked, black, and brush-tailed rock wallabies. They are pretty much common in the area.
 
Most marsupials are herbivorous, they are natural grazers. But some of them are carnivorous like the antechinus and dunnarts. The agile, dusky, and yellow-footed antechinus are often confused with rats. But they are pouched animals. Dunnarts are elusive and hard to find.
 
Also found in the Grampians are long-nosed potoroos and southern brown bandicoots. But they are an easy prey to foxes and feral cats.
 
Koalas are everywhere in Halls Gap for as long as you can see eucalyptus trees standing. You can see them on the branches and forks of the trees either sleeping or eating.
 
Gliders and nocturnal possums are also in the Grampians. Their populations are increasingly growing. Brushtail, ringtail, and eastern pygmy possums roam in the wild at night as well as feathertail and squirrel gliders.
 
Monotremes can only be found in Australian wilds. They are egg-laying mammals. The platypus is the most elusive of the monotremes. Sporting a waterproof fur, webbed feet, and a bill like a duck’s, the platypus lives near waterways. They dig burrows in the banks.
 
Another monotreme is the echidna, an anteater with spines and a coat of a porcupine. You can see them roam in the wild of the Grampians during warmer months.
 
The Grampians also hosts 11 species of native bats. They are the eastern false pipistrelle, white-striped freetail, chocolate wattled bats.
 
Dingoes, dogs, red foxes, and feral cats are some of the carnivorous mammals found in the Grampians. There are also herbivores such as European rabbits, brown hares, red and fallow deer, and goats. You can also spot some rodent species like the water rat, swamp rat, smoky mouse, and heath mouse.
 
There are 350 bird species can be found in the region. Emus and cassowaries are common in the Grampians. The lower and upper woodlands are home to different species of birds. From colourful endemic parrots to the laughing kookaburras. Ducks and swans populate the swamps.
 
The Grampians also hosts reptiles, and most of them are endemic to the region. They are turtles, lizards, geckos, monitors, skinks, dragons, and snakes. Most of the snakes are venomous and deadly.
 
Twelve species of frogs and toads are found in the Grampians such as the pobblebonks and brown-tree frogs. You can see them near waterways.
 
The waterfall pools, rivers, and lakes of the Grampians are home to native fish species too. There is some mountain as well as eastern little galaxias. You can also find some Yarra pygmies and southern pygmy perches. Flathead gudgeon and freshwater river blackfish are also common.
 
The Grampians also hosts 13 native crayfish species. These crustaceans cannot be found anywhere else in the world.