They're one of the rarest lizards in the country, and just about the only place they can be found in the ACT is in native grassland on rural properties in the Jerrabomberra Valley.
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But an invasive pest - African lovegrass - is putting the endangered grassland earless dragon at severe risk.
You've probably seen the weed on nature strips across Canberra - but they're more than just unsightly.
Now the ACT government is working with landowners who have dragon habitat on their property to make sure there's no invasion of the African lovegrass.
Ecologist Emma Carlson said the African lovegrass was the biggest threat to the lizard after its population crashed in 2006 and failed to recover.
"If the lovegrass moves into these areas it becomes a monoculture and the lizards can't move through the grass," she said.
"They need gaps and little alleys to run through.
"If African lovegrass comes it pretty much closes that down and suffocates them."
She said while the lizards used to be found in west Majura, the Jerrabomberra Valley was now their last known habitat in the ACT.
"In terms of quality habitat, it's all we've got left which is why we're trying so hard to protect it," she said.
Ranger Michael Harrison said it was important to collaborate with local lease holders of the rural land to eliminate the weeds together, through a targeted five year threat management and research project.
"Most leaseholders are doing a really good job of managing the weeds on their land," he said.
"So now the government is assisting where it can on the borders of properties."
Local landholders Jen and Peter Ipkendanz produce fine wool merino on a property in the Jerrabomberra Valley.
The property is also an important native grassland area and a dragon habitat.
They have been working with the government to manage the weeds on the edges of the property, and are constantly spraying their property to ensure it is free from the weed.
"It's always been very important to look after the native flora and fauna for us," Mrs Ipkendanz said.
"It's a very precious bit of land and we're custodians and I would like to pass that on to my sons in better condition it was than when I received it."
