This Alcatraz Coyote update comes not from my own observations, but from what friends have sent me. This photo was taken by a tourist on January 24th, just about two weeks after the coyote made its swim, so he not only survived, but he is well and thriving.
Rangers apparently have come across a bird carcass which they are certain was harvested by the coyote.
I’ve heard that authorities are thinking of removing the coyote because of all the visitors. In my experience, the coyote should be left alone. He expended a huge amount of effort to reach the island. If he can survive there, we should allow him to, allowed to live the life he has chosen. We all know that relocation is detrimental to coyotes and many don’t survive. This coyote poses absolute no danger to people — he will stay away from them.
In addition, since he was born and raised in the dense urban area of San Francisco, you can be sure that he already is very used to people. Coyotes pass folks constantly in our parks, and often at close range: but they have no interest in interacting with us. They are wary of people and keep their distance, even if they don’t flee lickety split as some people might want them to.
So on Alcatraz, folks just need to be asked to keep their distance and NOT feed the animal, which would cause him to hang around closely to where the tourists are. The only thing we humans might consider doing is making sure there is fresh water when and if the rain puddles dry up.
Alcatraz is only about 22 acres in size, and basically a rock, only about .3 miles long from end to end. Territories in the wild wild tend to be 4 to 8 square miles each; in the city, territories are about 2.5 square miles each. Several tenths of a square mile is not big enough for the coyote to stay indefinitely. He’ll probably want to return to where he came from and then continue he dispersal journey from there.
Lets stand back, watch, learn, and be awed by our wildlife and their amazing survival skills. We don’t need to always control and interfere.
PS: If we can get a good facial shot, I might be able to tell what family he came from! I can identify most of the adult coyotes by their faces, which is what has allowed me to study their family life, and to map their territories here in San Francisco.
A news article appeared in the San Francisco Standard on January 27, written by George Kelly and Michael McLaughlin. I am honored by their recognition: https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/27/coyote-swam-to-alcatraz-san-francisco/
Hannah Ziegler wrote an article for the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/coyote-swims-alcatraz-san-francisco.html [And here is that same article unlocked if you don’t subscribe: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/coyote-swims-alcatraz-san-francisco.html?unlocked_article_code=1.I1A.Yt-u.ZruttuP-xP0l&smid=url-share]
Jan 27, 2026 @ 19:19:18
I hope the authorities will leave him alone! Authorities are often detrimental to nature in general however well meaning they think they are.
Jan 27, 2026 @ 19:21:43
Yes, I agree, sadly, about authorities: they don’t have the animal’s welfare as their chief priority. :(
Jan 27, 2026 @ 19:48:51
Wow, wow, and more wow. Kudos to this coyote for all his/her strength, courage, bravery, and persistence. I am in awe—as I usually am by wildlife. Wow!
Jan 27, 2026 @ 20:06:30
Oh my gosh!!!! Coyote survived the journey and is thriving. WOW! This is so inspiring. Please please please – I hope people don’t intervene and remove him. Let him do his thing. Is there any way that our input would help? I’m sure you are offering your perspective to them? Or will the authorities do whatever they want to do no matter what we think or say?
Jan 27, 2026 @ 20:30:00
Hi Cindie — I’m hoping the authorities listen to what I’ve written, but I fear they will make their decision not based on the welfare of the animal which should be left alone, but on their need to interfere and control things how they want. That’s what authorities do. But let’s see: hopefully we’ll be proven wrong about them!! Thanks for your comment! Warmly, Janet
Jan 27, 2026 @ 22:17:42
I’m confused. The writer says that relocation is detrimental to coyote at this coyote has more or less relocated himself. Is that not detrimental to him?
Jan 28, 2026 @ 02:00:11
Hmmmm. It’s kind of like the difference between you picking up and moving to a different country because you want to and have found a job there, and someone kidnapping you and dumping you, say, in the desert, or the mountains, or anywhere. There will probably be property owners already there who will drive you away, or even shoot you to keep out. Same thing for coyotes. I hope this helps.
Jan 28, 2026 @ 22:36:13
What about a mate? Coyotes are pack animals. Will he/she thrive in isolation even with food available?
Jan 28, 2026 @ 23:23:15
Hi Robyn — Coyotes are family animals, it’s true, but they also thrive as loners. WHEN nature calls him in that direction, he’ll probably swim back and fulfill that calling! I don’t think this is something to worry about.
Jan 29, 2026 @ 17:53:28
Authorities w/ interest in this animal being on Alcatraz seem only concerned w/ how his presence may relate to human’s, etc.. Not so much in coyote’s welfare, e.g.. if longer he stays may affect his physical ability to swim back to mainland if wants to be nearer his own species again.
Jan 29, 2026 @ 18:32:13
I agree. There interest at first was concern/fear about human interactions. I can say that there should be no such worry based on what I’ve observed in the densely populated urban area of San Francisco. The other concern comes from birders who see the rock island as a bird sanctuary and bird breeding ground: they are making it into a bird vs. coyote issue. I myself believe we should sit back and not interfere: this is nature. That coyote I don’t believe will be there indefinitely: he’ll either eventually want to find a mate, and that will cause him to swim back, or the food supply may dwindle. Coyote territories on the San Francisco mainland run about 2.5 square miles, whereas the Alcatraz rock is less than .3 square miles! Thanks for your comment!!