Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, and a long-time employee of Alberta Parks since 2017, shared an intriguing experience he had while working at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park. On a scorching Sunday, which happened to be the busiest day of the week at the park, Chad, serving as the maintenance supervisor, and his team had just completed preparing over 120 camping sites for incoming visitors.
Despite the strenuous tasks involved in park maintenance such as cleaning up litter, clearing fire pits, removing leftover rope from trees, and tidying up after weekend campers, Chad was in high spirits as the day drew to a close. As he returned to his Winnebago, looking forward to grilling a steak for dinner, he was met with an unexpected sight – the meat he had planned to cook was missing from the camper.
Initially puzzled, Chad considered the possibility of a two-year-old black bear that had been spotted in the vicinity recently. However, upon further inspection, he realized the absence of the usual chaos associated with a bear intrusion. Instead, he noticed a softball-sized hole in the window screen, leading him to believe a small creature had pilfered his dinner.
Reflecting on the incident, Chad acknowledged the importance of respecting wildlife in their natural habitat, highlighting that even after years of living and working in forest environments and encountering various animals, one must remain vigilant and mindful of their presence. His evening took an unexpected turn when he heard a growl emanating from beneath the bed, only to discover a pine marten, a weasel-like mammal, had made its way into his living space.
After a brief standoff with the curious pine marten, which eventually scurried back into the wild, Chad humorously accepted his fate of dining with “Mr. Noodle” that night. This amusing escapade served as a poignant reminder of the untamed nature of wildlife and the importance of coexisting harmoniously with the creatures that call the forest their home.