Chad Dupuis, who resides in Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed by Alberta Parks since 2017. He shared his experience of working amidst nature, where he had become accustomed to the wildlife that inhabits the forest. A typical busy Sunday at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, where Chad serves as the maintenance supervisor, involved preparing over 120 camping sites for incoming guests.
Despite the physical demands of park maintenance, which includes tasks like clearing trash, tending to fire pits, and tidying up after campers, Chad was in high spirits as the day drew to a close. Upon returning to his Winnebago after a day’s work, he was looking forward to grilling steaks for dinner only to discover the meat missing from his camper.
Initially suspecting a nearby two-year-old black bear, Chad ruled out this possibility due to the lack of a larger mess. Pondering over alternative scenarios, he considered the prospect of human interference, but the absence of other valuables dismissed this theory. Finally, a softball-sized hole in the window screen led Chad to deduce that a smaller animal had swiped his dinner.
The incident served as a reminder of the wild surroundings he was immersed in, where encounters with various wildlife, including deer, bears, and pheasants, were common. Reflecting on the incident, Chad acknowledged the importance of respecting the animals’ habitat and the unpredictability they bring, even after years of familiarity with the forest.
As he sat inside his camper, a sudden growl from beneath the bed startled Chad, prompting him to investigate. Opening the door to the outside compartment, he was met by a reddish-brown pine marten, a weasel family member, growling and scurrying up a tree before eyeing him from a safe distance. Relieved that the intruder had departed, Chad returned to his camper, amused by the unexpected turn of events.
The encounter with the pine marten, though disruptive to his dinner plans, added a memorable chapter to Chad’s forest experiences. As he settled for a meal of Mr. Noodle that evening, he anticipated sharing the amusing tale with his colleagues the following day.