Chad Dupuis, a resident of Slave Lake, Alberta, has been working for Alberta Parks since 2017.For more personal stories like this, visit CBC’s First Person FAQ.
On a scorching Sunday at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park in Alberta, where I have been the maintenance supervisor for the last four years, the team had a hectic day preparing over 120 camping sites for new visitors.
Maintaining a park involves strenuous tasks such as cleaning up litter, clearing firepit ash, untangling ropes from trees, and tidying up after weekend campers, but as the day drew to a close, I was in high spirits.
After parking my truck, I strolled toward my Winnebago, relishing the sun on my face, the chirping of birds, and the excitement of grilling the steak I had planned for dinner.
Upon entering my mobile home, I was surprised to find the butcher paper on the floor and the steak missing.
Puzzled, I scanned the room, thinking of the young black bear that had visited a couple of nights earlier. However, it didn’t add up; a bear would have caused more chaos.
Considering if an intruder took the steaks, I remembered past incidents of unauthorized individuals in the area. However, the absence of a jar of change on the counter dismissed that theory.
As my eyes roamed the camper for clues, I noticed a softball-sized hole in the window screen, indicating an animal intrusion.
Feeling somewhat defeated, akin to a child returning home to a chewed toy, I accepted the loss of my anticipated dinner.
My encounters with wildlife in the forest had taught me to respect their domain. Despite my familiarity with the animals, the incident served as a reminder of their wild nature and unpredictability.