{"id":2600713,"date":"2026-05-09T09:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coyote-spotted-on-alcatraz-likely-swam-to-former-prison-island-but-theres-a-twist\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T09:59:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:59:53","slug":"coyote-spotted-on-alcatraz-likely-swam-to-former-prison-island-but-theres-a-twist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coyote-spotted-on-alcatraz-likely-swam-to-former-prison-island-but-theres-a-twist\/","title":{"rendered":"Coyote Spotted on Alcatraz Likely Swam to Former Prison Island, But There&#8217;s a Twist"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcoyote-spotted-on-alcatraz-likely-swam-to-former-prison-island-but-theres-a-twist%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600713&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An weary lone coyote was spotted in January paddling toward Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/minneapolis-to-fork-over-27m-to-george-floyds-family-city-reached-record-breaking-settlement-in-civil-case-amid-chauvin-jury-selection\/\" title=\"Minneapolis to fork over M to George Floyd\u2019s family, city reached record breaking settlement in civil case amid Chauvin jury selection\">video footage showed<\/a> it survived the cold, strong currents. Researchers later used DNA from scat found on the island and discovered the animal likely came from angel Island State Park-about double the distance previously assumed from the mainland. This finding reshaped the incident from an odd sighting into a more remarkable survival story. Park and wildlife experts said such a long open-bay crossing is highly unusual, and they found no remains, leaving the coyote\u2019s fate unknown. Tourists and scientists continue to talk about the mystery, which also adds irony as Alcatraz\u2019s \u201cinescapable\u201d reputation was built in large part because of the same treacherous waters.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A lone coyote was first spotted in January by visitors who saw the exhausted animal paddling toward the rocky shores of Alcatraz.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/19\/us-news\/coyote-swims-to-alcatraz-in-san-francisco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Post<\/a> reported that witnesses captured video footage and described the animal as cold and visibly fatigued after battling the bay\u2019s frigid currents.<\/p>\n<p>This coyote has become the center of an extraordinary wildlife mystery after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-scotus-nominee-says-cant-define-word-woman-not-biologist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biologists<\/a> revealed the animal swam nearly two miles through the rough waters of San Francisco Bay to reach Alcatraz Island.<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-embed\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3pMsjrMP6Dk?si=odfgqS-VEPnPbdvm\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The discovery stunned researchers, who originally believed the animal had made a much shorter journey from the San Francisco shoreline.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The coyote that managed to swim to Alcatraz Island earlier this year likely made the epic journey from Angel Island State Park, not San Francisco as previously presumed, the National Park Service said. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lILimcihKz\">https:\/\/t.co\/lILimcihKz<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/B0H8qSvJID\">pic.twitter.com\/B0H8qSvJID<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nbcbayarea\/status\/2051776484910494045?\">May 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>DNA testing of scat collected on the island confirmed the male coyote likely originated from Angel Island State Park rather than San Francisco itself. That finding doubled the estimated swim distance and transformed an already unusual wildlife sighting into a remarkable survival story.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Ben Sacks at the UC Davis Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit (MECU) explained that \u201cThree distinct coyote populations could have been the source of the Alcatraz coyote: San Francisco, Southern Marin, and Angel Island,\u201d and he continued saying \u201cOur lab was able to take the DNA sample and match it to a coyote previously sampled from the Angel Island population\u201d as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kron4.com\/news\/bay-area\/dna-reveals-alcatraz-coyotes-surprising-origin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KRON4<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Videos captured during the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >incident quickly spread online<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-canadians-issue-morse-code-sos-signal-across-u-s-ontario-border-to-protest-new-restrictions\/\" title=\"WATCH: Canadians Issue Morse Code \u2018SOS\u2019 Signal Across U.S.-Ontario Border To Protest New Restrictions\">drawing international attention<\/a> and raising questions about how the predator managed to survive such a dangerous crossing. Alcatraz is surrounded by swift currents and icy waters long considered hazardous even for experienced swimmers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A coyote made famous after swimming to Alcatraz Island in January recently gave scientists another surprise as they discovered where he came from. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/S4neihUpfH\">https:\/\/t.co\/S4neihUpfH<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LnFCdowyKT\">pic.twitter.com\/LnFCdowyKT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 KRON4 News (@kron4news) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kron4news\/status\/2051752012866593161?\">May 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle said the feat demonstrated the species\u2019 resilience and adaptability.<\/p>\n<p>Merkle said \u201cWe don\u2019t know what happened to the coyote . . .\u00a0 But he proved himself an expert swimmer to get to Alcatraz, and I hope he made a successful swim back home to Angel Island.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to park officials, coyotes are known to swim occasionally, but a crossing of this distance in open bay waters is considered highly unusual.<\/p>\n<p>The journey also carried symbolic irony because Alcatraz earned its historic reputation as an \u201cinescapable\u201d prison largely due to the same waters the coyote successfully crossed.<\/p>\n<p>Merkle said researchers have found no remains and no recent evidence proving the animal is still on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fresh-off-alligator-alcatraz-court-victory-florida-opens-deportation-depot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alcatraz<\/a>. Scientists now suspect the coyote may have returned to Angel Island using the same route it traveled initially.<\/p>\n<p>Tourists visiting Alcatraz continue to ask park rangers about the mystery animal months after the sighting. The story has added an unexpected wildlife chapter to an island already famous for criminal legends and daring escape attempts.<\/p>\n<p>For now, the coyote\u2019s ultimate fate remains unknown. But its extraordinary swim across one of America\u2019s most treacherous bays has already secured its place as one of the most unusual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/disturbing-wave-cat-disappearances-hits-us-town-officials-doubt-wildlife-blame\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wildlife<\/a> stories of the year.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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