A coyote that gained national attention for swimming to Alcatraz Island in California actually swam twice as far as originally thought, according to researchers. The male coyote's sudden appearance in January at the site of the former federal prison stunned scientists and tourists, marking the first time a coyote has been spotted there since 1972.
Key Takeaways
Researchers used DNA evidence to determine that a coyote spotted on Alcatraz Island actually swam from Angel Island, twice the distance initially thought.
- Coyote's swim traced back to Angel Island using DNA analysis
- Initial assumption was San Francisco origin due to shorter distance
- National Park Service impressed by coyote's resilience and adaptability
- Coyote has not been seen since initial sighting in January
Experts initially believed it had swum from San Francisco but new DNA evidence now points to Angel Island. The National Park Service (NPS) said that researchers used tracks and scat collected on Alcatraz for analysis at the University of California, Davis veterinary genetics lab. The results matched the coyote's DNA to Angel Island's coyote population.
According to NPS wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle, "We are surprised by the coyote's origin." He added that they were impressed by its accomplishment in making it to Alcatraz and noted that coyotes are known for their resilience and adaptability. The coyote has not been seen since the initial sighting.
Camilla Fox, founder of Project Coyote, suggested that the animal might have left its home base in search of a mate or new territory. She also mentioned that while it's rare to spot them swimming, coyotes can swim like wolves. The park service had planned to capture and relocate the coyote due to concerns about Alcatraz's seabird nesting habitats.
Video from early January shows the coyote paddling in the chilly San Francisco Bay and then struggling to get on to the rocky island. It was followed by a 24 January visitor sighting and photographs by Rebecca Husson, who was in town for a cousin’s wedding. She described the coyote as looking healthy and well-fed despite its challenging journey.
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