Coyotes Navigate San Francisco Bay, Establishing Growing Population on Angel Island
angel Island, CA – A recent sighting of a coyote swimming across Raccoon Strait has highlighted the remarkable adaptability of the animals and their growing presence on Angel Island State Park. Park staff documented the coyote successfully paddling approximately a quarter mile through the deep waterway between the island and mainland Marin County last month.
The island has hosted a “budding population” of coyotes for nearly a decade, beginning with the arrival of a breeding pair in 2017. Initially dismissed as isolated incidents, sightings have confirmed the animals are establishing a new mammalian predator niche.Researchers with the California Department of fish and Wildlife (CDFW) estimate the population at between 14 and 17 coyotes as of 2024, all closely related through a common maternal lineage.
This expansion on Angel Island mirrors a broader trend of coyotes increasing their range throughout the Bay Area. “We do know coyotes have been expanding south into Marin county and to San Francisco,” explained CDFW ecologist Brett Furnas in a 2023 interview with Bay Nature. “They’re already taking exploratory things like going across the Golden Gate Bridge,” he added, suggesting intentional or accidental crossings to the island are plausible.
Park interpreters report occasional sightings of coyotes swimming in the channel, though they remain rare. the recent video shared by the park sparked public interest and prompted a reminder from park officials: “Coyotes are strong swimmers.” Park staff prioritize coyote protection through public education on safe encounter practices.
