Coyote Olympian: He swam to Alcatraz prison twice

It was previously believed that he had set off from San Francisco, a city less than two kilometers from Alcatraz.

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Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Max Maca

Coyote became a star in America at the beginning of the year for an unusual feat - he swam across a section of the Pacific Ocean between the California coast and Alcatraz Island.

But, using tracking devices, scientists determined that this was not his first time and that he had already swam to the island where the famous prison once stood.

When it appeared on the shores of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay in January, tourists and scientists were amazed, as it was the first time a coyote had been spotted on the island since 1972.

It was previously believed that he had set off from San Francisco, a city less than two kilometers from Alcatraz.

But DNA tests confirmed that he swam from Angel Island, which is more than two miles from Alcatraz, the US National Park Service said.

They added that it is unknown where the animal is currently.

"We were surprised by its origin," says Bill Merkle, a wildlife ecologist with the National Park Service.

"Our assumption was that he swam from San Francisco, because it's a much shorter distance," he adds.

Experts are "impressed" by his achievement, says Merkl.

"Coyotes are known to be resilient and adaptable animals, and he definitely proved that he has these qualities," the ecologist adds.

A video taken by tourists in late January showing a coyote swimming off the coast of Alcatraz in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay surprised researchers and locals.

Some called him Floyd, the name of the driver who helped the famous criminals Bonnie and Clyde in the famous film.

Officials soon set up traps with cameras and sound recording devices around the island to track the animal.

They also launched an initiative to move it off the island due to concerns that it would prey on the seabirds that live there.

Scientists analyzed its tracks and movements, and the research was conducted at the University of California, Davis laboratory.

They determined that the coyote originated in Angel Islands State Park, where it embarked on an "epic swimming expedition."

"The Alcatraz coyote is not a city boy after all," NPS television announced, reminding us that three separate and distinct groups of coyotes live in the San Francisco harbor area.

Watch Coyote swim to the remote island of Alcatraz

Despite monitoring, the coyote has not been spotted since January and now scientists believe it is not on Alcatraz Island.

"We don't know what happened to the coyote," Merkl says.

"But he proved himself to be a top swimmer by reaching Alcatraz and I hope he made it home to Angel Island safely," he added.

Coyotes are wolf-like animals that can be found throughout most of America, as well as in city parks and upscale neighborhoods in San Francisco.

Alcatraz Island, also known as Stena Because it is considered an impregnable fortress, almost its entire surface area covers a remote federal prison that housed some of the most dangerous criminals in America.

Many films were shot there, including The bird from Alcatraz starring Bart Lancaster (1962), Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood (1979) and Stena with Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage (1996).

The Trump administration proposed back in May last year new prison opening in order to rehouse dangerous convicts.

They requested a budget allocation of $152 million to "rebuild Alcatraz as a maximum security prison unit," and that money would only cover the first year of work.

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