Meet the puppies tasked with keeping public spaces in Bergen County clear of geese

Bergen County residents may notice a group of puppies patrolling an area near them soon.

The animals are friendly and will happily accept some affection and words of encouragement from the public. But they are also on the clock, so to speak, performing an important environmental duty: keeping lands clear of geese.

The dogs are "employees" of ReduceGoose, a company that helps control the bird's population in counties throughout North Jersey and into New York. Owner Kevin Burke leads the group of dogs along commercial and residential properties, thus "making it a less appealing habitat for geese," the company told NorthJersey.com.

The puppies are trained to harmlessly "haze" geese, or force them to relocate to other areas, according to the ReduceGoose website. The dogs will be brought to a property multiple times per week at various times of the day to scare the birds away.

The eight dogs who got their start this week are all German longhaired pointers, a breed of dog known for its hunting instincts. The American Kennel Club called the breed "a superior, tried and tested hunting companion" that excels at tracking birds and other small animals like rabbits and squirrels.

The dogs will be used primarily to curb the spread of the Canada goose, a species that is not native to North Jersey but has become prevalent throughout much of the United States. The bird adapts so well to its surroundings that it "has even become something of a nuisance" in certain areas, according to the National Audubon Society.

One of the primary concerns surrounding geese is their droppings which can carry diseases and pollute water sources, ReduceGoose said. The company also cited the start of tick season and the spread of bird flu as reasons to protect green spaces.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen County geese patrol includes these puppies on the job