Chad Dupuis, residing in Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed by Alberta Parks since 2017. He shared his experience of working at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, where he serves as the maintenance supervisor. Sunday, the busiest day at the park, had been sweltering. Chad and his team had just completed preparing over 120 camping sites for incoming visitors.
Despite the demanding tasks like litter collection, firepit cleaning, tree rope removal, and spit cleanup from the weekend campers, Chad was in high spirits as the day concluded. Walking back to his Winnebago, he basked in the sun’s warmth, relishing the sounds of chirping birds and looking forward to grilling a steak for dinner.
Upon entering his temporary abode, Chad was shocked to find the butcher paper on the floor and the steaks missing. Although his initial thought was the nearby two-year-old black bear that had visited a few nights earlier, the lack of a major mess made him reconsider. Could it have been a human intrusion instead?
A thorough search revealed a softball-sized hole in the window screen, indicating a critter’s entry and the theft of his dinner. This incident served as a stark reminder that wildlife, including deer, bears, and pheasants, share the forest as their natural habitat. Chad’s encounter with the pine marten under his bed further emphasized the need to respect the wild inhabitants’ space and unpredictability.
The growling pine marten eventually left, allowing Chad to resume his evening plans, albeit with a different dining companion – Mr. Noodle. This amusing tale of unexpected wildlife encounters was something Chad looked forward to sharing with his colleagues the following day.
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