No evidence that coyote caused woman’s injuries in Mississauga: city

Mississauga officials say there’s no evidence to indicate an older woman who suffered injuries after going missing in the city’s southwest end last weekend was attacked by a coyote or coyotes, as media reports have suggested.

The woman, described by Peel Regional Police as being in her 70s, was reported missing last Saturday morning at around 6:30 a.m. She was located by police shortly after 8 a.m. at Lewis Bradley Park, located south of Lakeshore Road West and just east of Southdown Road in the Clarkson area of the city.

Though she was reported missing only 90 minutes prior to being found, the woman “may have been wandering through the night,” a Peel police spokesperson told INsauga.com. “When she was located, the woman was suffering with limb injuries to her lower body.”

Police noted the woman’s injuries are not considered to be life threatening.

As for what caused the woman’s wounds, police said on Thursday they “cannot confirm or deny that a coyote was responsible for the injuries as there were no eyewitness accounts.”

However, police added, “we do not believe the injuries were caused by another person or that foul play was involved. There is no way to know if this was a coyote, aggressive dog, cougar or any number of different animals.”

Ward 2 Coun. Alvin Tedjo says people’s concerns have been heightened since unconfirmed reports of a coyote attack last weekend.

City of Mississauga officials, meanwhile, responded this week to what they describe as “a lot of misinformation in terms of the reporting” on the incident.

Ward 2 Coun. Alvin Tedjo, who represents that part of the city, said it’s his understanding an apparent eyewitness suggested to media “without any evidence, that it was a coyote” that was responsible for the woman’s injuries.

The councillor said he heard a short time later from Mississauga Animal Services there was no evidence of a coyote attack and that they had no recent reports/sightings of any coyotes in the area.

Tedjo raised the matter at the city’s general committee meeting on Wednesday, saying people’s concerns have been heightened “and now everyone’s talking about how they need to protect their pets from coyotes. It’s been a very significant challenge this week in terms of residents who are panicked about it.”

Lewis Bradley Park in southwest Mississauga, where a woman was found suffering from leg injuries last Saturday.

City officials regularly throughout the year deliver information to residents about coyotes — and other critters — and how to avoid them. Much information is provided to the public via social media (see below), town hall meetings and other avenues related to the habits of coyotes, the importance of keeping human food away from them and how to protect pets from the wild animals.

Rob Trewartha, the city’s director of strategic communications, marketing and initiatives, told councillors on Wednesday staff has “a fairly robust annual program” dedicated to educating residents about coyotes, their habits and where they’re spotted by people in Mississauga.

He added they’ll put out more messaging this week to the public reinforcing earlier messages related to coyotes.

Tedjo, meanwhile, sent information to Ward 2 residents this week, the communication piece titled Coyotes in our community: What you need to know.

He told residents that reports of a coyote attack last weekend are inaccurate, but as a precaution Animal Control patrols were increased in the area.

Tedjo also encouraged residents who do see coyotes to report the sightings via the city’s online Coyote Map.

Don't feed coyotes – no matter how hungry they look! 🚫

Coyotes will go where food is easy to find, including outdoor malls, restaurants and plazas. Discarded food litter, waste and intentional feeding can attract coyotes and other wildlife to these busy areas, posing a public… pic.twitter.com/bRThWU4pDA

— City of Mississauga (@citymississauga) November 12, 2025