Coyote Swims Across Bay to Alcatraz Island

Tourists visiting Alcatraz expecting tales of prison escapes instead encountered a wildlife surprise: a lone coyote paddling through San Francisco Bay toward the island once touted as “escape-proof.”

Aidan Moore, an employee with Alcatraz City Cruises, says a visitor approached him late Sunday afternoon with iPhone footage showing the animal struggling through choppy waters and hauling itself onto the island’s rocky southern shore, visibly exhausted and shivering. “At first, I didn’t believe it,” Moore told SFGATE, but after watching the video, he radioed park rangers. By the time they reached the area, the coyote had vanished.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which oversees Alcatraz, confirmed the sighting, calling it unprecedented. While coyotes are common across San Francisco and Marin parklands, none have been spotted on the former federal prison island before.

Conservation scientist Christine Wilkinson suggests the most likely explanation is a young coyote venturing out in search of new territory during mating season, possibly originating from the Coit Tower area, where space is limited. Another theory: strong storm-driven currents—estimated at 8-9 knots—may have swept the animal off course, far faster than any coyote could swim against.

Both Wilkinson and Moore expressed concern for the coyote’s wellbeing but noted the island could potentially sustain it, thanks to plentiful rodents, unprotected bird nests during breeding season, and the absence of raptors. Coyotes have already established a presence on Angel Island after at least one swam there and paired with a mate. However, Wilkinson doubts Alcatraz is large enough to support a permanent pack. The swim from Tiburon to Angel Island spans more than a mile, and the current island colony is estimated at 14 to 17 coyotes.

For now, the fate of the Alcatraz coyote remains a mystery. Staff have scoured the island without success, leaving three possibilities: it returned across the bay, was swept out to sea, or is hiding somewhere out of reach of tourists.

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