Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed by Alberta Parks since 2017. He shared his experience of living and working among the forest wildlife. As the maintenance supervisor at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, Chad detailed a surprising encounter he had recently.
On a scorching Sunday, the team, led by Chad, had been diligently preparing over 120 campgrounds for incoming visitors. Despite the demanding tasks of park maintenance – from cleaning up litter to tending fire pits – Chad was in high spirits as the day drew to a close.
Returning to his Winnebago, Chad was looking forward to a steak dinner, only to find the meat missing upon entering his camper. Puzzled by the absence of his meal, his thoughts initially turned to a nearby black bear that had been spotted in the area a few nights earlier. However, the lack of a significant mess ruled out the bear as the culprit.
After a thorough search for clues inside the camper, Chad noticed a softball-sized hole in the window screen, indicating an intruder had entered. Realizing that a small creature had pilfered his dinner, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment, akin to a childhood memory of a chewed toy.
Having spent years in the forest, encountering various wildlife, Chad acknowledged the importance of respecting their habitat. As he pondered the dinner theft, a low growl from beneath the bed caught his attention. Swiftly taking action, Chad cautiously opened the camper door to reveal a pine marten, a weasel relative, scurrying out.
Relieved that the intruder had departed, Chad watched as the pine marten climbed a tree, maintaining a wary gaze. Reflecting on the incident, Chad anticipated sharing the tale with his colleagues, resigned to a simpler meal for the evening.
Chad’s unexpected encounter served as a poignant reminder that nature’s inhabitants, though captivating, demand caution and respect when sharing their environment with humans.