Chad Dupuis, who resides in Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed by Alberta Parks since 2017. Working in the forest environment led Dupuis to become accustomed to the wildlife inhabiting the woods. He shared his experience of encountering unexpected wildlife incidents while carrying out his duties at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, where he served as the maintenance supervisor for four years.
Despite the demanding tasks involved in park maintenance, such as cleaning, fire pit maintenance, and tidying up after campers, Dupuis was in high spirits as he completed preparations for over 120 camping sites on a busy Sunday. Upon finishing his work, he returned to his Winnebago, looking forward to a steak dinner he had planned to cook.
To his surprise, when he entered his camper, he discovered that the steaks he had prepared were missing. Initially attributing the disappearance to a nearby black bear he had spotted earlier, he realized it was unlikely due to the lack of a significant mess. Puzzled by the situation, Dupuis considered the possibility of human interference but ruled it out as other valuables were left untouched.
Upon investigating further, he noticed a hole in the window screen, indicating that a small animal had accessed his camper and pilfered his dinner. Reflecting on the incident, Dupuis acknowledged the importance of respecting wildlife in their natural habitat and the need to remain vigilant despite his familiarity with forest creatures.
As he pondered the situation, a growling sound beneath the bed caught his attention. Taking precautionary measures, Dupuis cautiously opened the camper door and watched as a pine marten, a weasel family member, emerged from the compartment and scurried up a tree. Relieved that the intruder had left, Dupuis prepared to share the amusing tale with his colleagues, content with a simple dinner for the evening.
Dupuis’s unexpected encounter with the pine marten served as a reminder of the untamed nature of wildlife and the importance of coexisting harmoniously with them in their natural habitat.