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A fence isn’t just a fence. There are so many different variations, styles, designs, materials, and purposes that lead to unique and distinctive fences around the world. A fence in Hawaii, for example, is garnering national attention recently for its unusual purpose and placement.

The Endangered Species Problem Facing Hawaii

Hawaii is known for its idyllic vacation spots and breathtakingly beautiful scenery, but it unfortunately also has the title of the endangered species capital of the United States. The state is actually home to a third of all endangered species in America, and 78 percent of extinctions in the country have occurred in Hawaii. This is not only disheartening but also very concerning. More than half of the state’s 130 native birds are now gone, and the rest remain severely endangered. (more…)

Animals roamed the earth long before humans ever arrived, but population growth and technology development has led humans to become the dominant species on our planet. This has unfortunately caused countless animals to lose their ecosystems and become endangered or extinct. The city commissioners in Hays, Kansas have been forced to acknowledge this problem implement a solution that protect important wildlife diversity while still helping Americans maintain their daily travel routines.

Hays Regional Airport Wildlife Fence

Back in 2010, deer were spotted at Hays Regional Airport in Hays, Kansas during an inspection. This led the Federal Aviation Administration to require the airport to build a fence for safety. Like so many other manmade features, Hays Regional Airport shares land with local animals, but this creates critical safety issues for the animals and airplanes alike. (more…)

There are plenty of problems that you might expect to break down a strong fence, like hurricane winds or an angry mob. But what about moose? That’s the problem that Anchorage, Alaska is now facing after moose broke right through a fence in an effort to obtain female attention. The story was brought to the media’s attention by Bryan M. Anderson, who was spending time looking for moose with his daughter on a Sunday morning in Anchorage’s largest park.

The Alaska Moose

The moose is an animal that most people in the United States know little about. It’s not exactly like deer or squirrels that are easy to catch in their natural habitat in the continental US. Quite the opposite, the Alaska moose lives predominantly in Alaska to Western Yukon and tends to roam independently. If moose do come together, it’s for mating and mating competition purposes, especially in the autumn and winter. In fact, scientists have documented just how aggressive male moose become when they have their eyes on the same female. (more…)

An unlikely conflict has arisen in Connecticut between a bakery and a 92-year-old town resident. Ann McCarthy has lived in her home on Grant Avenue since 1953 and has always enjoyed the full space of her driveway. After more than 50 years of embracing the land as her own, the bakery next store, Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery and Pastry Shop, is preparing to construct a fence that would be installed directly down the middle of McCarthy’s driveway.

When owner Rino Mozzicato asked permission to install the new fence, he cited liability issues as his reason. McCarthy requested a public hearing to try and stop the motion, but the commission rejected her request and reminded her that the bakery’s fence location would be legal and in compliance with all land use rules. (more…)

Ross Callahan learned the hard way, the very hard way, that building a fence requires the approval of a number of community entities. Callahan’s journey started in 2013 when he wanted to install a simple, attractive fence in his backyards to provide his dogs with the freedom to run and play. His neighbors had built similar fences over the years without asking permission, but Callahan and his wife didn’t feel right building an entire fence without the correct approvals.

So began a three year journey laced with frustration, disbelief, and many surprising developments. Back in the summer of 2013, Callahan asked the St. Paul’s department of safety and inspections for permission to build a dog fence, and was told he needed to obtain a property survey, mark his corners, and show the documents to the city. Unfortunately, that survey brought to surface a number of unpleasant realizations.

Not only did Callahan’s eaves hang over his neighbor’s property line, but an easement covered half his plot of land and extended so far into his back yard that it encompassed his entire living room. An easement is a slice of land dedicated to the public to accommodate things like utility lines. Behind the easement sat a park path that was allegedly being maintained by a homeowner’s (more…)

Pokemon Go has been taking the world by storm over the past few months. The free, location-based game that augments reality to encourage players to catch Pokemon has revived older fan bases that loved Pokemon as children, in addition to younger new fans that are eager to join the Pokemon revolution. Pokemon Go essentially utilizes a mobile phone’s GPS capabilities to allow players to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual Pokemon creatures that appear on the screen as if they really existed. The game requires movement is very competitive, inspiring millions of users to lace up their sneakers and go exploring in their communities. (more…)