The coyote (Canis latrans) is a highly adaptable and successful canid recognized across North America. This species has expanded its geographical range from its original territories in the West to encompass diverse environments, including forests, deserts, mountains, and major urban centers. Their ability to thrive is a testament to their flexible behavior and generalist diet.
Yes Coyotes Can Swim
Coyotes are capable and effective swimmers, though they do not enter water recreationally. When crossing a body of water, they use a “doggy paddle” style common among terrestrial mammals. The animal keeps its head elevated above the waterline, allowing it to breathe and navigate effectively.
Propulsion comes primarily from paddling with the front paws, while the tail acts as a rudder to maintain direction. Although their thick, dense coat offers excellent insulation on land, it is not ideal for prolonged immersion. The fur eventually becomes saturated, reducing buoyancy and insulation over long distances in cold water. Despite this limitation, their physical mechanics allow for efficient traversal across streams, rivers, and even larger expanses when necessary.
When and Why Coyotes Enter Water
Coyotes enter the water for specific, situational reasons tied to survival.
Hunting
One common motivation is hunting, as they are opportunistic predators who pursue semi-aquatic prey and waterfowl. They may wade into shallow areas or swim short distances to catch birds, muskrats, or other small mammals near the banks of a pond or river.
Escape and Evasion
Another reason for aquatic entry is to escape immediate threats from larger predators. Coyotes may plunge into a river or lake to evade animals like wolves, bears, or mountain lions that are less inclined to pursue them into the water. This defensive response leverages water as a temporary barrier.
Crossing Obstacles
They also routinely use water to cross small geographical obstacles encountered during daily travels and hunting forays. This includes crossing canals, flooded ditches, or narrow streams to continue on a path or access better hunting grounds.
Swimming and Coyote Range Expansion
The ability of coyotes to swim is a significant factor in their continental range expansion, allowing them to overcome major geographical barriers. This capability enables dispersal, which is particularly important for young coyotes establishing new territories away from their natal range. Successfully crossing wide rivers and large lakes facilitates genetic exchange and the colonization of isolated habitats.
Specific instances demonstrate their capacity for long-distance aquatic travel, such as the colonization of Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. Coyotes were first observed on the island in 2017, having apparently swum across the Raccoon Strait, a distance of over a mile, from the mainland. This open-water swim involved navigating strong currents to establish a new population.
Observations suggest coyotes can swim distances of at least 0.8 kilometers (half a mile) in one continuous effort. The Angel Island crossing significantly exceeded this distance. The capacity to make these voyages allows coyotes to move into new territories, including urban islands, where they can exploit untapped resources. This behavior showcases swimming as a long-term dispersal mechanism that has underpinned their success across North America.