SAN FRANCISCO — Wildlife researchers were left amazed when a solitary coyote made an extraordinary journey through the dangerous waters of San Francisco Bay to reach Alcatraz Island, the infamous former prison known for its escape-proof location surrounded by turbulent currents.
Initially, scientists believed the animal had swum from San Francisco’s shoreline, which sits just over a mile from the historic fortress. However, DNA testing has revealed the male coyote actually completed a much more challenging 2-mile journey from Angel Island.
“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,” National Park Service wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle stated in a Monday announcement titled “Alcatraz Coyote Wasn’t a City Boy After All.”
“Coyotes are known to be resilient and adaptable, and he certainly demonstrated those qualities,” Merkle added.
According to Camilla Fox, who founded and leads the nonprofit Project Coyote, the animal was likely seeking either a breeding partner or fresh territory to claim. Fox explained that while coyotes can swim like their wolf relatives, witnessing such behavior is extremely uncommon.
“We have never, ever heard such a story of a coyote making such a long journey in a pretty challenging ocean current,” Fox remarked.
Footage captured in early January documented the coyote navigating the frigid bay waters before attempting to climb onto the island’s rocky shores. A visitor later photographed the animal on January 24th.
Scientists discovered fresh tracks and droppings, which they submitted to UC Davis for genetic testing. The results shocked officials when they confirmed the swimmer belonged to Angel Island’s coyote community.
Park officials had planned to trap and move the coyote due to Alcatraz serving as crucial nesting grounds for seabirds. However, the animal has disappeared from both visual sightings and camera equipment, with no indication it remains on the island.
The notorious Alcatraz prison opened during the 1930s to hold America’s most dangerous criminals before shutting down in the 1960s due to its expensive isolated operations.
Throughout its history, 36 inmates made 14 different escape attempts from Alcatraz. Almost all were recaptured or perished in the freezing, rapid currents. The site became a public park in 1973.
Angel Island operates as a state park that historically functioned as an immigration processing facility where Chinese and other immigrants were detained anywhere from days to months, sometimes up to two years.
Fox noted that coyotes faced significant challenges establishing themselves on Angel Island but managed to succeed. She encourages visitors to both islands and similar natural areas to respect coyote families and their dens during the current pup-rearing season.
