A split rail fence made of pine typically costs around $3 to $6 per linear foot. On the flip side, vinyl split rail fences usually run about $20 to $26 per linear foot.

To you, that fence feels like a cozy enclosure. To animals, it's a barrier to survival. Here's how to make sure your fence is kinder to wildlife.

Ridge LaPage, a local Boy Scout, completed a split rail fence at the Leslee Niethammer Saline River Preserve as part of his Eagle Scout project. A dedication was held August 2 to recognize his work.