Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit Content

Alcatraz Coyote Wasn’t a City Boy After All

Katherine E Kerlin — May 05, 2026 - 1:19pm

After months of fieldwork and scientific analysis, National Park Service researchers have determined that the coyote that drew international attention in early 2026 after swimming to Alcatraz Island likely started his epic swim from Angel Island State Park.

The coyote’s whereabouts remain unknown, but new DNA evidence has helped park staff answer one of the biggest questions surrounding the unusual sighting: where he came from.

Dining Out with San Francisco’s Coyotes

Katherine E Kerlin — January 22, 2025 - 5:45am

As their traditional dining options dwindle, the native coyotes of San Francisco are shifting what they eat. A UC Davis study reveals what's on the menu.

Genetic Rescue for Rare Red Foxes?

Katherine E Kerlin — September 26, 2024 - 8:00pm

A UC Davis study shows inbreeding is affecting Lassen's small, isolated red fox population. Genetic rescue could be a viable option for their recovery.

Endangered-Mouse Study Shares No-Contact Sampling Method

Katherine E Kerlin — September 19, 2022 - 10:00am

Collecting genetic samples for small mammals can be tricky, but UC Davis scientists found a noninvasive way to do it for San Francisco's endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.

Indian Wolf Among World’s Most Endangered and Distinct Wolves

Katherine E Kerlin — September 02, 2021 - 10:00am

The Indian wolf could be far more endangered than previously recognized, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the scientists who sequenced the Indian wolf’s genome for the first time.

Mountain Gorilla Numbers on the Rise

Katherine E Kerlin — December 16, 2019 - 9:50am

A 2018 survey shows that mountain gorilla numbers have increased in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, and Sarambwe Reserve, DR Congo, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The 2018 Bwindi-Sarambwe mountain gorilla survey found a minimum of 459 mountain gorillas in these regions, an increase from the previous survey estimate in 2011 of 400.

When combined with the 2015-2016 population survey results of 604 mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif, the total world population of endangered mountain gorillas now stands at 1,063.