Chad Dupuis, an Alberta Parks employee since 2017, shared his recent encounter with wildlife while working at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park in Slave Lake, Alta. It was a busy day preparing camping sites for new arrivals under the scorching sun.
Despite the demanding tasks of park maintenance, including cleaning up, firepit maintenance, and tidying up after campers, Dupuis was in high spirits as the day drew to a close. Excited to grill steaks for dinner, he headed back to his Winnebago only to discover the meat missing.
Initially alarmed, Dupuis considered the possibility of a black bear he had seen nearby. However, the absence of a mess suggested otherwise. Speculating whether an unauthorized person had taken the steaks, he soon found a clue – a softball-sized hole in the window screen.
Realizing a critter had infiltrated his camper and stolen his dinner, Dupuis felt a sense of disappointment akin to a childhood memory of a chewed-up toy. This incident served as a poignant reminder of wildlife’s presence in their natural habitat, prompting Dupuis to acknowledge the forest as their primary home.
As he pondered the mystery, a growl beneath the bed startled him. Taking cautious steps outside, he witnessed a pine marten, a weasel family member, emerging from the compartment. Relieved, Dupuis watched as the marten climbed a tree, growling in protest.
Returning to his camper, amused by the unexpected visitor, Dupuis settled for a humble meal with Mr. Noodle, anticipating sharing this eventful story with his colleagues the following day.
Encounters like these serve as a testament to the unpredictable nature of wildlife, reinforcing the importance of respecting their domain even for seasoned forest workers like Dupuis.
