Texas Residents Have Been Painting Their Fences Purple For The Most Unusual Reason

In many remote and rural areas across America — in states like Texas, Maine, and Arizona to name a few — hikers, campers, and hunters might find themselves running into a curious sight: a fence post painted purple. Quaint, unique, and stylish, it's not exactly cause for alarm in the minds of passersby. But it definitely should be: knowing what purple paint means can be the difference between a lovely afternoon outside, and life, death, or a long prison sentence.

Surprises At Every Turn

If you frequent the great outdoors regularly, however, you may be used to seeing random stuff from time to time and acting accordingly. Some may even say that this is part of what makes those treks so satisfying. After all, you never know what may be around the corner. And if it happens to be dangerous, well, that just makes for a better story after the fact.

Painted Blazes

While out and about, then, you may have already seen the odd splash of color on certain landmarks. And if those marks are on trees, they could hold a variety of different meanings. An orange stripe or two, for example, typically signals that the tree will be cut down. You should take particular note, however, if you stumble across a fence featuring a dash of purple.

Colors With Meanings

Yes, more and more people are marking their fence posts and trees with vertical purple lines. But this hasn’t been done for decorative purposes, nor is the color a stylistic choice to brighten things up. This particular marker has been put in place to warn those who see it to be very careful indeed.

Unassuming Visitors

It’s particularly important to make sure people understand this kind of warning, too. After all, people love the idea of going traveling and experiencing another culture firsthand. And while soaking in the sights in a city may be an obvious choice for a trip, making your way to a more rural setting could be just the ticket. But – in this instance, at least – this is where the problem arises.