Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed at Alberta Parks since 2017. He admits that living and working in the forest had made him somewhat indifferent to the wildlife that call the woods their home.
On a scorching Sunday, which happened to be the busiest day at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park where he served as the maintenance supervisor for the past four years, Chad and his team were tirelessly preparing over 120 camping sites for incoming visitors. Despite the demanding tasks of clearing garbage, tidying fire pits, removing ropes from trees, and cleaning up after weekend campers, Chad was in high spirits as the day drew to a close.
Returning to his Winnebago after a long day’s work, Chad was looking forward to a delicious steak dinner he had planned to cook. However, upon entering his camper, he discovered the meat missing, leaving him puzzled and slightly anxious. Recalling a recent encounter with a young black bear in the vicinity, Chad initially suspected the bear might have been the culprit. But the absence of a bigger mess ruled out the possibility.
As he searched for clues inside his camper, his attention was drawn to a hole in the window screen near the couch, about the size of a softball. Realization struck him that a small animal had likely chewed through the screen and made off with his dinner. Feeling somewhat defeated, Chad likened the situation to a childhood memory of returning home to find a chewed-up toy.
Having spent years surrounded by various wildlife in the forest, Chad’s missing meal served as a stark reminder that animals are the true inhabitants of the wilderness. Their unpredictability and ability to surprise, even in seemingly familiar surroundings, were lessons he took to heart.
Just as Chad was pondering the incident, a low growl under the bed caught his attention. Swiftly stepping outside and propping open the compartment door, he waited anxiously. Soon enough, a reddish-brown pine marten emerged from the space, growling as it dashed up a nearby tree. Relieved that the intruder had left, Chad returned to his camper, amused by the unexpected turn of events.
Despite losing his anticipated steak dinner, Chad found solace in the quirky encounter with the pine marten, knowing it would make for an entertaining story to share with his colleagues the next day. And as he settled for a meal of instant noodles that evening, he reflected on the importance of respecting the wildlife that call the forest their home.