Chad Dupuis, an Alberta Parks employee since 2017, shared his experience of living and working in the forest, leading to a casual attitude towards the wildlife that inhabit the area. As the maintenance supervisor at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park in Alberta, Chad described a typical busy Sunday preparing camping sites for new arrivals. Despite the physical demands of park maintenance, he found joy in the warm sun, bird sounds, and the prospect of a steak dinner waiting for him in his Winnebago.
To his surprise, upon entering his camper, Chad discovered his steak missing, sparking initial thoughts of a nearby black bear he had encountered before. However, the absence of a mess ruled out the bear as the culprit. Puzzled, he considered the possibility of human interference due to previous unauthorized incidents in the area. Upon noticing a hole in the window screen, Chad realized a small animal had snuck in and stolen his dinner, prompting a moment of disappointment reminiscent of childhood disappointments.
Reflecting on his encounters with various wildlife in the forest, Chad acknowledged the animals’ domain and the need to respect their presence. A subsequent growling sound under the bed led to an unexpected encounter with a pine marten, a weasel family member, which made off with his dinner. Relieved when the pine marten left, Chad embraced the quirky experience, looking forward to sharing the story with his colleagues, accepting dinner with a sense of humor that evening.
As Chad’s tale unfolded, it highlighted the unpredictability of wildlife encounters and the importance of coexisting respectfully with nature.