By Alex Wigglesworth
Staff Writer Follow
Sept. 11, 2025 3 AM PT
- A coyote was spotted swimming off Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, an unusual sight that surprised wildlife experts.
- Coyotes first came to the island by water in 2017, and researchers are studying how they interact with the local deer population.
It was a sight that prompted even seasoned wildlife watchers to do a double take: A coyote swimming in San Francisco Bay a quarter of a mile off Angel Island.
“I was surprised because it was so far from land,” said California State Parks environmental scientist Bill Miller, who saw the coyote last month while aboard a boat bound for the island.
At first he thought it was a seal or a sea lion. Then he saw the pointed ears.
Video shows coyote swimming in San Francisco Bay as population grows on Angel Island
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