A coyote has astonished observers by swimming through treacherous waters to reach Alcatraz Island, the site of the infamous former prison off the coast of San Francisco. The animal is believed to be the first of its kind to make the journey, which was captured on video by a tourist and shared online.
The coyote was seen doggy-paddling alone in the San Francisco Bay, head bobbing, before emerging on the island's rocky shore, bedraggled and shivering. Aidan Moore of Alcatraz City Cruises posted clips on Facebook, noting the swim was about 1.25 miles. He reported the sighting to park rangers, but by the time they arrived, the coyote had disappeared.
Experts suggest the coyote may have been seeking new territory due to population pressure. Janet Kessler, a self-taught naturalist who has studied local coyotes for 20 years, told CBS that the animal looked depleted after the harrowing swim. She remarked that coyotes are survivalists and would find resources on Alcatraz, such as mice, rats, birds, and rainwater.
Alcatraz, which housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, was closed as a federal prison in 1963 and is now a popular museum attracting over a million visitors yearly. The island's cold, rough waters had long been considered nearly inescapable, making the coyote's feat all the more remarkable.
