He should have been trying to make his escape.
A coyote doggie-paddled ashore at Alcatraz on Sunday, leaving stunned guests and workers wondering how the unlikely visitor pulled off the daring swim.
A tourist captured stunning footage of the adventurous animal paddling the former prison’s rocky shores, showing the coyote standing on the rocks and appearing to shiver.
‘“It can barely stand,” someone is heard saying in the footage. “It looks like maybe he’s cold.”
The onlooker gave the video to a guest relations employee for Alcatraz City Cruises, who called in the sighting to park rangers, according to SFGATE.
But when park officials arrived, the coyote was nowhere to be found. “I suspect he fell into the water chasing something and was swept away,” the employee, Aidan Moore, told SFGATE.
A boat captain said the currents were off that afternoon and no animal would be able overcome them.
“He didn’t look like he was in very good condition, which I’m not surprised by given the harrowing experience,” Moore told SFGATE.
Nobody knows where the coyote swam from, but San Francisco is about 1.25 miles away.
The coyote could have also swam from Marin or Angel Island, where a family of coyotes moved in, SFGATE reported.
“We’ve been wandering around the island looking for him, but no one has been able to spot him,” Moore added of the animal’s whereabouts. “It’s possible he might not be seen for a while.”
Comments on the video posted to Facebook reported other sightings of coyotes on the island.
“Such a brave coyote but all tired. When I went to Alcatraz a week ago I saw one. Hope they get help,” one wrote.
“Wow! I’ve seen this at Angel Island but this is impressive,” said another.
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