Coyote Stuns Visitors After Swimming All the Way to Alcatraz Island
Visitors at Alcatraz Island were left in shock after a guest captured rare footage of a wild coyote swimming across the bay and climbing onto the historic island.
A Surprising Sighting on the Dock
Earlier this month, Alcatraz staff member Aidan Moore was greeting visitors when a guest told him something unbelievable — he had just seen a coyote swimming in the water near the island.
Moore was skeptical at first.
“I thought it must have been a sea lion,” Moore said, since they are commonly seen in the bay.
That changed when the guest showed him a video of the animal paddling through the open water and hauling itself onto the rocky shore.
“When I saw the video, I realized — that’s really a coyote,” Moore said.
A Record-Breaking Swim
To reach Alcatraz, the coyote would have had to swim 1.25 miles through water as cold as 50–55°F.
With strong currents and the natural swimming ability of animals from the dog family, experts say the journey, while rare, is possible.
“Dogs are natural swimmers,” Moore explained. “Coyotes are part of the dog family.”
How Did He End Up in the Bay?
While no one knows for certain what led to the swim, staff believe the coyote may have fallen into the water while chasing prey and was then carried by the current.
A Mysterious Disappearance
Since the video surfaced, staff have searched the island but have not been able to locate the coyote.
“My hope is that he’s somewhere warming up and getting his strength back,” Moore said. “He looked very shaken after the swim.”
What Happens Next?
Although Alcatraz has temporarily closed for urgent maintenance, staff plan to resume their search once it reopens.
The island offers natural shelter and food sources, which could help the coyote survive until he is found.
“The likelihood is he’ll be captured and returned to the mainland,” Moore said. “He’ll be given a second chance back where he came from.”