Coyote Swims to Alcatraz Island in First-Ever Recording (Video)

Living in California, north or south, coyote sightings are common.

Personally, I’ve lost count of how many outdoor cats my family has lost to the crafty critters over the years, and even one small dog. (Rest in peace, Lulu.)

They are survivors. Wild animals existing in urban lands. And one coyote recently went viral as it made its way through the San Francisco Bay, presumably from the mainland, and onto the historic Alcatraz Island. It’s being called a “first” for the species; see below.

The coyote can be seen doggy-paddling in the ocean, as captured on video from a visitor to the once-infamous prison island. Once it reaches the rocky shore, it is clearly spent. It’s so exhausted, and cold, from the crossing, that it can barely stand.

“It was a late Sunday afternoon like any other on San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island,” reports SFgate. “The day was winding down, and Aidan Moore, a guest relations employee for Alcatraz City Cruises, was at the dock of the tourist attraction helping visitors disembark. Suddenly, one of the tourists approached him, wide-eyed: They had just seen a coyote swimming to shore, something that has never been recorded before.”

Following up on the incident, and speculating as to why the coyote may have braved the cold water and daunting distance to Alcatraz, CBS spoke with Janet Kessler, a woman whose credentials chyron comically reads “studies coyotes.” Here’s Kessler’s best guess:

“This one probably was pushed around by other territorial owners, and decided that he could make this trip. So, he attempted it and made it.”

That’s right, coyote bullying.

As for surviving on the island, Kessler thinks the coyote will be alright:

“There are banana slugs, rats, mice, birds…there is plenty for him to eat. Although there is no running water, there has been a lot of rain. So, there’s a lot of puddles lying around. In that sense, he will likely be able to make it.”