VIROQUA, Wis. – A steady stream of vehicles pulled along the shoulder of the road to get a look at it: an enormous, hairy pig that apparently had been struck and killed by a vehicle.

“I took a look to see if it had any tusks,” Andy Sherry of Viroqua said. “If it did, somebody got to them before I did. It was really a big, big pig.”

Large populations of the hard-to-find, feral animals are thought to live in southwestern Wisconsin.

The animal was found on the highway five miles south of Viroqua 61 Friday morning. It appeared to have been dragged from the center of the road, and it had a severe head wound.

Vernon County chief deputy Jim Hanson said a semi driver hit the 450- to 500-pound sow early Friday and apparently didn’t have reportable damage. He said a removal company took care of the carcass.

“It’s not a real common occurrence,” he said.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources considers feral pigs an exotic species that poses a threat to the environment and to agriculture. Anyone with a small-game license is allowed to hunt them at any time of the year.

Veggie Pride Parade urges “Give Peas a Chance”

NEW YORK — The veggies your mom implored you to eat are getting their own celebration in New York City: The Veggie Pride Parade.

Rain or shine, the parade is expected to wend its way through Manhattan’s old meatpacking district on Sunday before ending at Washington Square Park.

Along the route, costumed bride and groom Penelo Pea Pod and Chris P. Carrot will exchange veggie vows and ask observers to “Give Peas a Chance” and “Go Vegetarian!”

Parade organizer Pamela Rice says the mission of the parade is to promote vegan and vegetarian lifestyles and the ethical treatment of animals. It was inspired by a similar parade in Paris, France.

Florida firefighters help catch fleeing suspects

PLANTATION, Fla. – A group of Florida firefighters recently found themselves fighting crime instead of fire.

The firefighters of Engine 14 in Broward County were on their way back to the firehouse Friday afternoon when they saw two masked men walk out of a business and run for a white sport utility vehicle.

They followed the SUV for several miles but the suspects realized they were being tailed – it’s hard to be discreet in a fire truck.

Fire Lt. Dean Meadows acknowledged that fire trucks “aren’t made for chases.” But the firefighters’ directions did help a sheriff’s helicopter find the vehicle.

The suspects crashed their SUV and were taken into custody. The Plantation Police are investigating.