A lone coyote stunned biologists and others by swimming to Alcatraz Island earlier this year, a journey that turned out to be twice as long as initially believed. The male coyote paddled from Angel Island, located 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away, rather than from San Francisco, which is just over 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the former federal prison in the San Francisco Bay.
Surprising Discovery
Initially, experts assumed the coyote had started its swim from San Francisco, given the shorter distance. However, DNA analysis of tracks and scat found on Alcatraz revealed the animal belonged to a population on Angel Island. National Park Service wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle expressed admiration for the feat, stating, "Our working assumption was that the coyote made the swim from San Francisco because it is a significantly shorter distance. We couldn't help being impressed by his accomplishment in making it to Alcatraz." He added that coyotes are known for their resilience and adaptability.
Rare and Remarkable Journey
Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote, noted that while coyotes can swim, witnessing one undertake such a long journey in challenging ocean currents is extremely rare. She speculated the coyote may have been seeking a mate or new territory. Video from early January captured the coyote paddling in the chilly bay and struggling onto the rocky island. Subsequent visitor sightings and photographs confirmed its presence, but the coyote has not been seen or detected since, and there is no evidence it remains on Alcatraz.
Context of Alcatraz and Angel Island
Alcatraz Island, a federal prison from the 1930s to the 1960s, is surrounded by swift, choppy waters that thwarted escape attempts. It reopened as a park in 1973. Angel Island, a state park, once served as a processing center for immigrants, including Chinese detainees. Fox noted that coyotes colonizing Angel Island was no easy feat, and she urged visitors to respect coyote families during pup season.
