The Alaska Wildlife Guide Team

Rainer Zahnen

I am originally from Germany, and the founder and owner of Alaska-Wildlife-Guide LLC. I am a true outdoors person who enjoys sharing Alaska’s fascinating beauty with all our guests from around the world.
My passions are canoeing, hunting, fishing, hiking and snow machining. However, despite preferring the outdoors, my main job is managing the Tour company.

Jutta Zahnen

When I visited Alaska for the first time I fell in love with this incredible nature. After we settled in North Pole, and set up my husband’s company, we were asked so many times: “Where can we stay overnight?” We came up with the idea to build a cabin and rent it out, the customers just love it. I am responsible for all the good stuff that our customers receive on our tours like homemade stew, sandwiches, coffee and punch as well as the personalized lunch bags for each tour guest. You find me in the back but I am always there.

Robert

I came to Alaska in 2004 from Colorado to get my degree from the University of Alaska in Business Management and a minor in accounting which I finished in 2007. I was a part owner of a company that provided medevac insurance for Alaskans after college. I sold the company in September of 2016, and decided to go back to school to get a Masters in Education from UAF and plan to teach history to 8th graders when I finish my degree. I married a lifetime Alaskan in 2009 and we live near Fox, AK with our 4 Labradors. I am an avid birdwatcher, hunter, snow-machiner, atv and motorcycle enthusiast, and music lover. I love to talk about Alaska, and enjoy doing tours for people eager to have a true Alaskan experience.

Kevin

Hi! My name’s Kevin, and I am one of the fortunate folks with the privilege to drive for AWG.  I’m a lifelong Alaskan with 4 kids and two grandkids plus a wife who says I get into too much trouble if I am not kept busy.  I have been a teacher for going on 24 years and love to spend my summers traveling and experiencing all Alaska has to offer.  I love to hunt and fish as well as spend time with my family.  I have spent time in the village of Fort Yukon, Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow) as well as spent a summer on a ‘slime line’ in Southwest Alaska.  I love to share my experiences with others as well as get to experience new things with those I travel with.  It is a treat to see folk’s eyes light up when they see something new for the first time.  Life is an adventure – if you just take the time to realize it.  Hop aboard and let’s go see what’s out there!  

TBA

 

 

TBA

 

 

Judah

Judah firmly believes that Alaska is the best place in the world to live life to the fullest! He first came to Alaska in 2007 and the 49th state got into his soul and wouldn’t leave him alone. He has been back since 2014 and loves fishing, hunting, golfing, cigars with friends, music, staring up at the winter night skies looking for stars and aurora, soaking in the Chena Hot Springs and spending quality time adventuring with his awesome kids. It is such a priviege to be able to share Alaska with so many people from all over the world.

Steph

Steph is a nature enthusiast and avid traveler who moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 2010 with her three teenage children. Her passion for exploration led her to meet her husband in 2013, and together they have embarked on numerous adventures throughout Alaska and Canada. Steph and her husband enjoy traveling in RVs and on a motorcycle, often accompanied by their three beloved dogs. Their journeys have allowed Steph to indulge in her interests in Alaskan photography, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the history and geology of Alaska and the Yukon. Steph’s love for nature and adventure has driven her to explore the most remote and breathtaking corners of Alaska and Canada. 

Keaton

I first came to Alaska for a summer job in Denali where I met my 3 loves, Alaska, Erika (my girlfriend), and mushing. I happened to be living next to a dog sledding kennel and made friends with some people who worked there. One thing led to another and my love for sled dogs sprouted.

I soon knew I wanted to race. In the Fall of ’22 we moved up to Fairbanks to run the Windy Creek Kennel. The plan was to run one race this first winter to ease into the rhythm and help the dogs get back into a racing training schedule. Well, like most everything in my life, I dove headfirst, and we ended up doing 4 races this year (Solstice 50, Willow 300, Yukon Quest Alaska 300, and the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Run in Canada). The dogs did amazing, and I am so grateful for each of those races. Now I am officially qualified for the Iditarod so I will be running it hopefully within the next two years.

In my free time I am continuing to expand my knowledge of every aspect of Alaska, to share as much information as possible with the guests that come on my tours.

Tony

As a kid growing up in Alaska, I brought a whole sled dog team into sixth grade for presentation and rides in the playground at recess. Spent many years commercial fishing in Cook inlet. Have traveled both domestic and across the pond. While travel is fundamental to life for me, Alaska is the girlfriend I always come home to. Lived in everything from a WW2 bunker in Dutch Harbor AK with Siberian rats, to a castle in Boston Massachusetts. I have stories for days and educating people on what I’ve lived and learned, has always been a good way to showcase Alaska, “The Great Land”.

Cowie(Supervisor)

My name is Cowie and I lived my whole life here in Alaska. I came into this business through an unfortunate event which was Rainer’s and Dan’s hunting trip. My job is the most important one in this business. Sometimes, it is tough and a lot of work to be the supervisor in our beautiful and comfortable shop, but mostly I am just hanging around. And this makes up for all the hard work.

I make sure that everyone behaves during our snowmobile tours and that the vans are being cleaned properly. I am also the best photo model in this area, but will bite if you try to touch me.

Bryan
(General Manager)

Bio

Ellie
(Office Manager)

G’day!  I am originally from sunny, tropical Queensland, Australia and am married to a born and bred Alaskan and have two pet rabbits.  After more than 10 years of living down under, the Alaskan decided he missed the snow and ice too much so decided that we should move back to Alaska.  Luckily before moving here I had made many trips here over the  years and at least knew a little about my new home, so it wasn’t too foreign.  Apart from missing Aussie bacon, I do miss the warm weather and get a bit sick of snow after a while. I love the outdoors and always look forward to the snow disappearing so we can get out and explore this great State and everything Alaska has to offer.

Ashley
(Office Assistant)

Hi, my name is Ashley. I’m just a lil ol’ Alaskan Native lady born and raised here in Alaska. I have an amazing husband and three beautiful children. I absolutely love to go fishing in the summer time and ice fishing in the winter. I find myself in the kitchen the majority of the time as I love to cook. I adore Alaska and love meeting all kinds of people from the states and other countries!

James
(Van Detailer)

My name is James, a boy from Brooklyn, New York, who transferred to Alaska with the Post Office Maintenance Department 20 years ago. I’ve since retired now and have a sweet retirement gig half a mile away. I love working for Alaska Wildlife Guide, it’s simply a pleasure coming full-circle to work once again for a mom & pop business. I’ve never seen a dissatisfied customer.

Jeff
(Mechanic)

Jeff is a born and bred Alaskan, an avid outdoorsman and off-road enthusiast. Jeff is the expert on all things mechanical, ensuring that our vans and snow machines are maintained and in good working order.