Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, has been employed at Alberta Parks since 2017. He shared his recent encounter while working at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, where he serves as the maintenance supervisor.
On a scorching Sunday, which typically saw high visitor traffic, Chad and his team were busy preparing over 120 camping sites for incoming guests. Despite the demanding tasks of park maintenance, including cleaning up debris, tending to fire pits, and clearing up after campers, Chad was in high spirits as the day wound down.
Returning to his Winnebago with plans to grill some steaks for dinner, Chad was shocked to discover the meat missing upon entering his camper. Initially suspecting a nearby black bear that had recently visited his site, Chad was puzzled by the lack of a bear-like mess and considered the possibility of human interference.
Upon noticing a softball-sized hole in the window screen, Chad realized a small critter had snuck in and pilfered his dinner. Reflecting on his years of living and working in the forest, Chad acknowledged the importance of respecting wildlife and remaining vigilant in their habitat.
As Chad pondered his stolen supper, he heard a growl emanating from beneath his bed. Swiftly investigating, he uncovered a reddish-brown pine marten, a weasel family member, which darted out and perched on a nearby tree, growling at him. Relieved that the intruder had vacated, Chad retreated inside, amused by the unexpected dinner turn of events.
While the incident served as a memorable story for Chad to share with colleagues, he settled for a simpler meal that evening, chuckling at the quirky wildlife encounter in his camper.