Survivor’s island: coyotes seen paddling throughout deep San Francisco Bay waters | San Francisco

For almost a decade, Angel Island within the San Francisco Bay has been residence to what the state parks describes as a “budding population” of coyotes. Late final month park employees bought an enchanting glimpse on the animal’s journey to the island.

Angel Island staffers touring by boat noticed a coyote swimming alongside Raccoon Strait, and filmed it paddling throughout the deep waterway between the island and mainland Marin county. The coyote was a few quarter mile from shore and safely returned to the island, the park posted on-line.

A breeding pair of the animal first arrived to the island in 2017 and over time have “gradually [filled] a new mammalian predator niche”, in accordance with the state park. But their presence was so surprising that preliminary sightings of the animal have been dismissed. Park staffers consider the animals doggy paddled a mile throughout a robust present from Tiburon to Angel Island.

Researchers with the California division of fish and wildlife (CDFW) have been studying the phenomenon and located in 2024 there have been between 14 to 17 coyotes, a few third of which have been feminine. The animals have been all associated and have one, now deceased, mom or grandmother, in accordance with the state park.

The rising inhabitants on the island comes as coyotes are increasing their presence throughout the Bay space.

“We do know coyotes have been expanding south into Marin county and to San Francisco. They’re already taking exploratory things like going across the Golden Gate Bridge,” Brett Furnas, an ecologist with CDFW, advised Bay Nature final 12 months. “So it’s not a stretch that they would, maybe by accident, get swept across to Angel Island, or intentionally do that.”

Ferry employees and park workers have seen coyotes swimming within the channel earlier than, however the sightings are uncommon, a park interpreter advised SFGate, which first reported on the event.

The park shared video of final month’s sighting on-line, sparking curiosity and concern from folks unfamiliar with the animal’s swimming habits.

“Coyotes are strong swimmers,” the park wrote. “Park staff work daily to protect coyote, mainly by teaching the public what to do and what not to do if they encounter a coyote.”