Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, and an employee at Alberta Parks since 2017, shared a recent wildlife encounter he experienced while working at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park. As the maintenance supervisor, Chad had just finished preparing over 120 camping sites on a hot Sunday, the busiest day of the week. Despite the strenuous tasks of park maintenance, Chad was in high spirits as he wrapped up his day.
Returning to his Winnebago for a barbecue dinner, Chad was shocked to find his steak missing. Initially suspecting a nearby black bear, Chad ruled out this possibility due to the lack of a significant mess. Puzzled by the disappearance of his meal, he considered the potential involvement of unauthorized individuals in the area known for breaking park rules.
Upon noticing a softball-sized hole in his camper’s window screen, Chad deduced that a small animal had infiltrated his living space and made off with his dinner. Reflecting on his close encounters with forest wildlife, Chad realized the importance of respecting their habitat and remaining vigilant, as the animals are wild and unpredictable.
Curiosity piqued, Chad heard a growl emanating from beneath his bed, prompting him to investigate. Opening the camper’s side door to the space under the bed, Chad encountered a reddish-brown pine marten, a weasel-like creature, which quickly scampered up a tree, growling in protest. Relieved that the intruder had departed, Chad returned to his camper, amused by the unexpected dinner turn of events.
As Chad prepared to share his tale with colleagues the next day, he resigned himself to a meal of instant noodles for the evening, cherishing the bizarre yet memorable encounter with the pine marten.