A lone coyote that swam more than a mile across the San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island is being monitored by scientists and could be moved if its presence threatens birds on the infamous Californian island.
The canine, called Floyd, appears to be thriving on The Rock - renowned for its abandoned prison - and getting by on an avian diet.
Whether Floyd can stay on Alcatraz depends entirely on how it behaves, says Aidan Moore, a local tour guide who shared footage of the coyote's journey. Complicating matters is that there are no fresh water sources, which could make the animal's welfare dependent on human intervention.
Video footage of Floyd - believed to be a male - hopping onto Alcatraz's rocks was captured by a tourist and shared with Moore. The gaunt coyote appeared to be shivering from the bay water which is about 10C (50F). But he has plumped up since, says Moore, who is originally from the Cotswolds, in England.
On Saturday, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) observed and photographed the coyote. The GGNRA confirmed to the BBC that the animal is believed to have been seen swimming to and coming ashore on the island nearly two weeks earlier.
This coyote is the first documented coyote presence on Alcatraz since the island was transferred to the National Park Service in 1972, the GGNRA said. Park biologists and staff are actively monitoring the coyote to better understand how it is surviving on the 22-acre island and to assess any potential impacts to the seabird breeding colony, the GGNRA said.
The coyote's presence does not affect public access to the island, which remains open to visitors. Alcatraz island - nicknamed the Rock because it was regarded as an impregnable fortress - is home to the shuttered federal penitentiary that housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the US.
Coyotes, the wolf-like creatures that are native to North America, are not uncommon in the San Francisco Bay. Nearby Angel Island has at least 16 coyotes that thrive there due to the availability of fresh water and larger prey.
Floyd has to be able to catch enough birds to sustain his dietary needs, Moore suspects that catching them is like shooting fish in a barrel given the thousands of birds there.
Kessler, a naturalist, noted that Floyd might have made the journey to escape territorial pressure in the city. However, she warns that being on Alcatraz may not provide a long-term solution for the coyote.
The wildlife experts are concerned about the potential impacts of visitors to Alcatraz on Floyd's safety and whether the coyote will be able to thrive on the island.
