 You know, my out-of-state friends often ask me, what are these fences that exist along the highways that start nowhere and actually go nowhere? Well, I tell them that they're snow fences when they play a critical role in Wyoming's winter environment. Blowing snow blinds drivers, causes accidents and makes clearing the roads difficult, sometimes impossible. Snowdrifts can reduce sight and cause loss of vehicle control. To keep this from happening, a snow fence is used to minimize the amount of snow drifting on the roadways. There are several types of snow fences, including wood, plastic and living fences. A living fence is made by planting trees, shrubs and or native grasses. These plantings create a vegetative barrier that trap and control blowing and drifting snow. Snow fences have been an excellent solution for preventing drift formation over the 20 years they've been in place in Wyoming. The remarkable effectiveness of properly designed snow fences saves money and makes the roads much safer. For the University of Wyoming, Cooperative Extension Service, I'm Tom Hill for Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.