Cougar hides under RV, RVer told to ‘stay inside’

She heard what sounded like raccoons under her RV—angry ones.

But in this case, the noise coming from beneath a Parksville woman’s rig wasn’t small critters at all. It was a full-grown cougar, resting just feet away.

A noise RVers hear all the time—until it’s not

Lorelei Scott had lived in her RV at Park Sands Beach Resort in Parksville, British Columbia, for four years. Strange noises under the rig weren’t unusual. Like many RVers, she’d come to expect the occasional nighttime visitor—usually raccoons.

So when she heard a loud rustling and what she described as “angry cats” around 7 p.m. on March 15, her first instinct was to go outside and take a look.

Something stopped her.

That hesitation may have been the smartest move she made all day.

Minutes later, a message from the park manager confirmed it: A cougar had just been seen slipping underneath her RV—and she needed to stay inside.

A very large “houseguest”

A neighbor soon confirmed what Scott had been warned about.

Meg Conarroe spotted the animal and even managed to slide a camera through a gap in a shared fence to capture a photo. The big cat, she said, appeared calm—“just chilling”—as it rested beneath the RV.

For Scott, the realization hit hard.

“Big cougar… I wasn’t expecting the sound of a cougar,” she said. Had she gone outside to check on what she thought were raccoons, she could have walked straight into a dangerous encounter.

The cougar eventually moved on and hasn’t returned, according to reports. Wildlife officials were notified.

Why this matters for RVers

Most RVers have heard noises under their rigs. Usually, it’s nothing more than small animals looking for shelter or scraps.

But this story is a reminder: Not everything that rustles in the dark is harmless.

Cougars—also known as mountain lions—are common across much of the West and parts of Canada. They tend to avoid people, but they do move quietly and can settle into surprising places, especially where there’s cover.

An RV skirt, shadowed undercarriage, or quiet park can look like a safe resting spot.

What to do if you hear something under your RV

If something sounds off beneath your rig, especially at night:

• Stay inside and turn on exterior lights if you have them.
• Don’t assume it’s a small animal.
• Avoid stepping outside to investigate in the dark.
• Make noise from inside—talk loudly, tap on walls, have a barn dance on your kitchen floor.
• Alert park management if you’re in a campground.

In most cases, the animal will move on. But giving it space is the safest move.

Trust that gut feeling

Scott didn’t go outside that night—and that decision likely prevented a close encounter she wasn’t prepared for.

It’s an easy habit to slip into. You hear something, you go check it out. RV life teaches you to deal with the little stuff.

But every now and then, it’s not little.

And sometimes, the best move is the one you don’t make.

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