CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a wild pig stops hunting for food to eye the photographer.  This pig is part of a larger family in the area. The wild pigs have flourished in the environs around Kennedy, which shares a border with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, without many predators other than panthers and humans. Pigs were introduced to Florida in the 1500s and are now found statewide in wooded areas close to water. Pigs are omnivores, foraging on the ground and rooting just beneath the surface, which damages the groundcover. Wild pigs eat almost anything that has nutritional value, including tubers, roots, shoots, acorns, fruits, berries, earthworms, amphibians, reptiles and rodents. Their appearance is similar to domestic hogs, but leaner, with a longer, narrower head and a coarser, denser coat.  Females may have two litters per year.  The piglets are weaned in a few weeks but remain with the mother for several months. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2009-2109

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a wild pig stops hunting for food to eye the photographer. This pig is part of a larger family in the area. The wild pigs have flourished in the environs around Kennedy, which shares a border with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, without many predators other than panthers and humans. Pigs were introduced to Florida in the 1500s and are now found statewide in wooded areas close to water. Pigs are omnivores, foraging on the ground and rooting just beneath the surface, which damages the groundcover. Wild pigs eat almost anything that has nutritional value, including tubers, roots, shoots, acorns, fruits, berries, earthworms, amphibians, reptiles and rodents. Their appearance is similar to domestic hogs, but leaner, with a longer, narrower head and a coarser, denser coat. Females may have two litters per year. The piglets are weaned in a few weeks but remain with the mother for several months. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2009-2109

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Summary

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a wild pig stops hunting for food to eye the photographer. This pig is part of a larger family in the area. The wild pigs have flourished in the environs around Kennedy, which shares a border with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, without many predators other than panthers and humans. Pigs were introduced to Florida in the 1500s and are now found statewide in wooded areas close to water. Pigs are omnivores, foraging on the ground and rooting just beneath the surface, which damages the groundcover. Wild pigs eat almost anything that has nutritional value, including tubers, roots, shoots, acorns, fruits, berries, earthworms, amphibians, reptiles and rodents. Their appearance is similar to domestic hogs, but leaner, with a longer, narrower head and a coarser, denser coat. Females may have two litters per year. The piglets are weaned in a few weeks but remain with the mother for several months. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

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Date

03/03/2009
place

Location

Kennedy Space Center, FL
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Source

NASA
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Copyright info

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

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