Floyd the Coyote: Alcatraz's Newest Resident and His Future

Sat Jan 31 2026 12:05:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Scientists monitor a coyote named Floyd who swam to Alcatraz Island, assessing the implications of his presence on the local wildlife.

Floyd, a coyote who successfully swam over a mile to Alcatraz Island, is currently being observed by scientists. His survival techniques are under scrutiny, especially concerning the local seabirds and lack of fresh water. While he appears to be adapting well, the decision on whether he will remain depends largely on his behavior and the impact he may have on the local ecosystem.

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, but he has plumped up since.

On Saturday, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) confirmed to the BBC that the animal is believed to be the same coyote seen swimming ashore nearly two weeks earlier. Floyd is the first documented coyote presence on Alcatraz since the island was transferred to the National Park Service in 1972.

Park biologists and staff are actively monitoring the coyote to understand how it is surviving on the 22-acre island and to assess potential impacts to the seabird breeding colony, especially as nesting season begins.

Alcatraz Island, nicknamed 'the Rock', is home to the shuttered federal penitentiary that housed some of America’s most notorious criminals, and serves as a sanctuary for seabirds during their breeding season.

Coyotes, native to North America, are not uncommon in the San Francisco Bay, with nearby Angel Island hosting at least 16 coyotes that benefit from its fresh water and larger prey.

Floyd's adaptation has raised questions regarding interspecies competition in the densely populated Bay Area, spurring discussions about human intervention for his welfare.

Whether he will stay or go seems to depend on his behavior, tourist interactions, and environmental conditions on Alcatraz.

Project Coyote warns that human practices may significantly influence Floyd's fate, asserting that humane management must balance both the animal's welfare and visitor safety.

Many hope that any decisions made by the National Park Service will allow Floyd the chance to thrive on this historic island.