Leah Kulsrud initially dreamed up Driven Wild when visiting her childhood home. It was situated on a golf course, and Leah saw how many geese were always in the area. She knew that golfers despised having to play through goose droppings, and the mess negatively affected the otherwise successful course. When she saw her dog, Duke chasing the geese, she had her lightbulb moment. She spoke to city officials, golf course owners, and members of the public who expressed that they would like to see a humane alternative to trapping and exterminating geese. After some research, she learned that although there are successful companies throughout the US who do this work, there was no such company in her home state of Minnesota. Thus, Driven Wild was formed.
We’re happy to be able to provide our service to members of the communities where we both grew up, and we’re passionate about the natural beauty of the great state of Minnesota. We see Driven Wild as a means of preserving a peaceful existence between people and animals. Learn more about Driven Wild by contacting us.
Blaze
Blaze is a Border Collie who loves the water. He is two years old, and he has been trained to haze geese since he was a puppy.
Hard at Work
Our trained dogs and handlers know exactly how to intimidate geese into leaving your property without causing any harm.
Goose
Goose is a five year old Border Collie, and yes, that was her name when she came to us!
Effective Goose Control
Canada geese are protected from hunting or capture outside of hunting seasons due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
About Our Dogs
Driven Wild currently operates using two dogs. Our first dog, Goose, is a five year old Border Collie, and yes, that was her name when she came to us! Her name was the first indicator that she was the perfect dog for Driven Wild. Once we had the opportunity to work with Goose, we saw how great she really is.
Goose was trained to herd sheep and cattle from a young age, but her gentle nature wasn’t quite imposing enough for such large animals. This makes her an ideal dog for our work because she can effectively clear an area of geese without any natural drive telling her to come into physical contact with the birds. Often, herding dogs use nips to control cattle which could easily injure smaller animals, like geese. To have found a dog with such extensive training who still hadn’t added the use of force to her herding repertoire was truly lucky.
The newest addition to the team is Blaze. He’s two years old, but he has been around geese since he was a puppy. His “coworker” Goose started showing him the ropes right away. Blaze’s name suits him because he is blazing fast when he’s running after geese. This guy likes to work hard and play hard. To cool off after a strenuous day of hazing, Blaze loves to hop in the lake. In fact, we usually can’t get him out of the water.
Blaze is only in the goose hazing business for the thrill of the chase and has no desire to actually meet the geese. He enjoys spending his free time watching goslings, squirrels, birds, and other small animals peacefully and from afar. Blaze is a quiet thinker whose gears are always turning. We’re pretty sure he’s busy thinking up new ways to outsmart his targets.
About Our Humane Approach
Our methods of hazing/harassing geese have been suggested by the Minnesota DNR, PETA, The Humane Society of the United States, and several other organizations whose goal is to peacefully coexist with geese. Many companies and organizations have tried a lethal “round up” and extermination of geese in the past, and it has proven to be unsuccessful long-term. The geese reproduce at a rapid rate and are always looking for suitable habitats. If the resident geese in an area are removed permanently, it will only open the area up for new geese. Organizations like PETA recognize that the most humane and effective option for controlling goose populations without resorting to lethal means is harassment or hazing, and specifically using dogs to harass the geese.
Canada geese are protected from hunting or capture outside of hunting seasons due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This act dictates that non-lethal methods must be used to manage nuisance geese with few exceptions. Driven Wild acts in accordance with the terms of this act, and our dogs do not physically harm or harass the geese.
About Our Handlers
Both Leah and Alex have a background working with dogs. Their combined experience with both individual dogs and large groups totals over a decade. Throughout their careers working with dogs, both Leah and Alex became educated on dog behavior, natural drives, and various training methods. Their experience allows them to have a successful professional relationship with the dogs of Driven Wild.
Learn More About Geese
- The lifespan of a wild goose ranges from 10-20+ years.
- A pair of breeding adults can have between eight and ten goslings each breeding season. Sometimes goslings from several mating pairs will form a “gang” with all the adults watching after the young.
- Some migratory Canada geese are not going as far south in the winter as they used to. This shift has been attributed to changes by farmers whose practices have made waste grain more available in winter, as well as changes in weather.
- The Giant Canada goose, one subspecies of Canada goose, was nearly hunted to extinction in the early 1900s. Programs to reestablish the subspecies to its original range were in many places so successful that the geese have become a nuisance in many urban and suburban areas.
- Geese are drawn to spaces where they have a clear, wide view of approaching predators. This feature and their affinity for lawns due to the digestibility of grass make golf courses, parks, and airports highly attractive to geese.
- In 2000, the Canada goose population in the United States was between 4 and 5 million.
- A large population of geese near bodies of water can cause a spike in fecal coliform bacteria in the water, which can cause health and environmental issues.
- Geese colliding with airplanes in the air have caused several plane crashes, some of which have been fatal. The most well-known incident involving a collision of a plane and a flock of geese occurred in 2009 to a US Airways flight that experienced power loss but was ultimately successfully landed in the Hudson River.
- Several organizations, such as PETA and the Humane Society of the U.S., have endorsed hazing of geese by trained dogs as one of the most effective methods to rid a property of nuisance geese long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone who has geese living on or regularly visiting their property can benefit from our services. If you are fed up with geese destroying the lawn, leaving their droppings everywhere (sometimes over a pound per goose every day!), or chasing humans, Driven Wild is the solution. We can effectively clear both small and large areas, and our dogs are not afraid to go for a swim in your pond or lake. An investment in quality goose control can yield huge returns for your business. If Canada Geese are standing in the way of your business running at peak performance, contact us for a free quote today!
Our trained dogs and handlers know exactly how to intimidate geese into leaving your property without causing any harm. The dogs work quietly and efficiently to avoid disturbing residents or patrons. Often, geese may feel unsafe on land yet untouchable on water. Using dogs, we can easily get to all geese, including those in the water, and force them to leave the area completely. Once we have determined the best plan of action for clearing geese from your property, we will make scheduled visits with our dogs at different times of day. This keeps the geese from recognizing any specific pattern to the presence of the dogs, and it will deter geese who may stop by at different times throughout the day.
Dogs are a natural predator to which Canada Geese will never acclimate. While other methods of goose control may initially be successful, eventually the geese will learn that decoys, balloons, and other scare tactics do not pose a true threat. Our handlers can give the dogs precise commands which allow us to clear an area quickly and effectively. When trained properly, the dogs can easily be kept from harming any geese, including those which may not be able to fly away. This is extremely important as Canada Geese are federally protected and must not be physically harmed without proper authorization.
Prices vary based on several factors. These include acreage, ease of access, water features, the length of time required for us to reduce the goose population, and much more. We assess each individual situation and offer a variety of pricing options. We strive to make our services affordable for everyone, whether you are a local city, a small business owner, or a large corporation. Contact us for a free estimate.
You should begin to see results shortly after our dogs establish a presence on your property. The amount of time it will take to drastically reduce the Canada Goose population will vary based on a variety of factors.
You can contact us via phone or email. We will set up a time to come out and assess your property so we can provide you with a no-cost estimate and answer any questions you may still have.
Tired of Ineffective Goose Control?
If you are tired of trying out multiple ineffective options to control the geese on your property, Driven Wild is the ultimate solution. Contact us for a free estimate and more information about why this is the last goose control method you’ll ever need.
