Coyote reaches Alcatraz after a mile-long swim

A young coyote swam about a mile to Alcatraz and is currently on the island; the National Park Service says it plans to trap and relocate the animal before seabird breeding season.

A young coyote swam to Alcatraz Island and has been seen along the shoreline. This is the first documented coyote presence on Alcatraz since the National Park Service took over the island in 1972. Observers report the animal appeared thin and cold when it arrived but has been photographed in apparently healthy condition weeks later. Park officials and conservationists have raised concerns because the island supports many nesting seabirds. Key details: - Officials and observers reported the coyote reached Alcatraz by swimming across San Francisco Bay and has been seen on the island in recent weeks. - The National Park Service has said the coyote poses a risk to nesting birds and plans to trap and relocate it before the upcoming seabird breeding season. - The agency intends to move the animal to a "natural, undeveloped area that provides appropriate habitat" within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, though experts caution relocation can be challenging for a displaced young coyote. Summary: The park service has announced a planned relocation ahead of seabird breeding season. The animal appears to be surviving on the island, and experts say the long-term outcome for the coyote after relocation is undetermined at this time.