Home / Environment / Coyote Swims to Alcatraz!
Coyote Swims to Alcatraz!
21 Jan
Summary
- Coyote completed a 1.25-mile swim to Alcatraz island.
- Sighting confirmed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- Coyote may have sought new territory due to population pressure.
A coyote has achieved what is believed to be a first, swimming the treacherous waters to Alcatraz Island off the San Francisco coast. The remarkable journey, estimated at 1.25 miles, was captured on video by a tourist. Park officials have confirmed the authenticity of the sighting.
The coyote's reasons for undertaking the challenging swim are not definitively known. However, naturalists speculate that the animal might have been displaced by territorial competition from other coyotes. This pressure could have prompted the bold decision to traverse the bay in search of new territory.
Upon reaching Alcatraz, the coyote appeared exhausted and wet, shivering from the cold waters. Despite its depleted state, experts note that the island offers potential resources for survival, including small prey and rainwater. The Alcatraz prison famously closed in 1963, and the island now attracts over a million visitors annually.
