Overview
- A tourist video captured a lone coyote paddling ashore on Alcatraz and shivering on the rocks, marking the island’s first recorded visit by the species.
- National Park Service staff were alerted but could not locate the animal, and officials say no additional reports have come in.
- Biologists say the most likely origin is San Francisco, though Marin County or Angel Island are possible, implying a roughly 1 to 1.5 mile swim through cold, fast currents.
- Experts note Alcatraz offers rodents and birds as food yet spans only 22 acres and serves as a nesting refuge, raising questions about survival and ecological impact.
- Researchers plan to monitor for further evidence and pursue genetic sampling if possible, as part of broader work on coyote movements among Bay Area islands.