Staff at Angel Island State Park recently spotted a coyote swimming across the Raccoon Strait in San Francisco Bay, initially mistaking it for a seal. The coyote, part of Angel Island’s elusive population, made a half-mile round trip before returning to Ayala Cove, as reported by park interpreter Casey Dexter-Lee to SFGATE.
Coyotes first appeared on Angel Island in 2017, surprising park staff who had never seen them before. A ranger’s sighting was initially dismissed until more sightings confirmed their presence. By 2019, the coyotes had established a growing population, now numbering at least 14. These animals have significantly impacted the island’s ecosystem, leading to the disappearance of raccoons and affecting the deer population, as Hoodline reports.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a multi-year study to understand the coyotes’ impact on the island’s ecology. The study includes collecting DNA samples from coyote scat to analyze their diet, which consists mainly of invasive species like black rats and house mice. The presence of coyotes has also led to changes in the behavior of local deer, which now avoid open spaces.
Despite concerns about their swimming behavior, experts believe the coyotes are simply exploring new territories or searching for food. Brett Furnas, a CDFW ecologist, told Bay Nature that coyotes have been expanding their range into Marin County and San Francisco, making it plausible for them to swim to Angel Island.
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