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The Alaska Wildlife Guide Team

- OWNERS -

Rainer Zahnen

a man standing next to a river

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

a woman wearing a hat and smiling at the camera

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.

- OUR TOUR GUIDES -

We are so lucky to have found guides who believe in the ideas and goals of our business philosophy. We are very proud to have very knowledgeable, high motivated, extremely active and flexible people who live in Alaska not just for a short time, but year round. They know Alaska and the life in “The Last Frontier” and guide you through our special and interesting tours. Most of our guides are multilingual what helps to connect to our guests very well.

Tony

a group of people in a boat on a body of water

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”.

 

Logan

a person standing posing for the camera

Logan is originally from the small town of Cranberry Lake, NY. After listening to stories of friends and relatives working and living in Alaska he moved here in 2023 capping off his list of living in the five US states with the lowest populations. He is an archaeologist by trade and has spent his career working in the Mountain West and Great Plains. His outdoor interests stem from his family working in the conservation industry and they include hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, snow machining, and scuba diving.

 

Kevin

a man wearing a hat and sunglasses

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!  

Jessica

a man smiling next to a body of water

 

I’m originally from a small town in Northern Michigan. After a couple of years of college, I decided to join the Army Reserves and met my husband. We lived in Maine for a while before being sent to Alaska in 2011. I fell in love with the natural wonders of this place. After three years in the lower 48, we were ready to come back and make it our home. When I’m not busy taking care of my family I enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, rockhounding and wildlife photography during the summer and aurora photography in the winter.

Jean

a person posing for the camera

I grew up cruising Alaskan waters and the coastline from Seward Alaska to La Paz Mexico from the ages of 3 to 15 years old. At 15 I moved to Tennessee. I went to University in Kentucky for Nursing.  My family and I moved back to Alaska in 2009.  Alaska is where we want to stay. We enjoy camping, fishing, snow machines, and other ATVs.  After 20 years in health care I decided I love Alaska so much I want to show it to others.  That is what led me to being a Tour Guide with this exceptional company.

Kathy

a woman smiling next to a body of water

I was born and raised in Port Orchard, Washington. I first came to Alaska in 1987 to work at a salmon cannery. I began living in Fairbanks permanently 1989, after working in Denali National Park and falling in love with interior Alaska. I graduated from UAF in 1992 and began my teaching career in August of that year. I returned to UAF for a Master’s Degree in School Counseling which I completed in 2005. I worked for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District until I retired in May of 2023. A guiding position sounded like a fun change and a good way to stay active, and I really enjoy being a guide for Alaska Wildlife Guide. 

In my spare time I am an avid hockey player, and I love all things outdoor-related. I have two grown children, and two sweet granddaughters. I also really enjoy traveling throughout the US and internationally.

 Gavin

a group of people standing in front of a mountain

I was born and raised in Fairbanks but my dad’s side of the family is from a small Alaskan Native village called Beaver. I’ve been showing off this beautiful state for the last 6 years, everything from guided hunting and fishing charters, chasing northern lights and cultural tours. I’m currently working on getting my pilot licenses so I go out and explore Alaska from the skies.

 

 

 

Jim

I was born in Cleveland Ohio. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s and graduating in 1983 with a Degree in Aviation from Cuyahoga Community College. My first trip to Alaska in 1980 after highschool set my goals for returning someday. Another summer in 82 and after 5 years in Florida, I moved to Fairbanks Alaska in 1988. Hired on to an aircargo outfit at the Fairbanks International Airport, my 16 year tenure was before me. Flying  over Alaska for a career,  sailing Prince William sound from Valdez on weekends, building my own home took up my time. Obtaining my Master USCG license in 2006 gave me a new career as the Captain along the coast from Hyder to Valdez, Alaska. Now back in Fairbanks after 13 years in Southeast Alaska, I’m continuing to show guests all around the interior.

 

 

 

Kevin

John Jaso smiling for the camera

Kevin grew up in Montana near Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but moved to Alaska in 2008 to seek bigger mountains and to study at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He enjoys hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting in Alaska’s wild and wonderful locations. The Brooks Range and the Arctic coastal plain are his favorite adventure destinations. He, his wife, and their Labrador retrievers are steadily checking off float trips along Alaska’s twenty-five federally designated ‘Wild and Scenic’ rivers, striving to visit a new river every summer.

 Jared

a man standing next to a mountain

I was born in Fairbanks Alaska and have lived there all my life. After graduating from high school I started working in the tour industry during the summer season while I continued my education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I planned to go into law enforcement for the first few years but quickly discovered that wasn’t my path. Then I realized how much I enjoyed working with tourists and in the Alaska Tourism industry. So I put in the extra work to get a specialized custom-made degree for Alaska Tourism and Photography. To this day I am continuing my career as an Alaskan Artist and Tour Guide across the State and thoroughly enjoy the time I share with our guests.

 Nicole

TBA

- OFFICE EMPLOYEES -

Bryan
(General Manager)

a person wearing sunglasses and a hat

This relatively new Alaskan was born in Honolulu and raised in San Francisco. I came here on a cruise over thirty years ago and fell in love with Alaska right away. Even though it took almost three decades, I made it back here eventually. Alaska has been the best decision I have ever made, and it brought me my amazing wife and daughter. I love all things outdoors, and I spend any free time I can find getting to know this amazing land.

Ellie
(Office Manager)

a group of people posing for the camera

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)

a man standing on a rocky hill

Howdy! I’m AWG’s newest member. Originally hailing from the Midwest, I moved to Alaska in 2019 to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I am an avid adventurer, who spends any free time backpacking through America’s National Parks [to achieve my goal of visiting all of them: I’m currently halfway there!]. From getting stuck in a blizzard on a volcano in Hawaii, to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Virgin Islands; to dog mushing in Alaska & summiting Angel’s Landing in Utah, I have had my share of exciting experiences. Lucky for me, the Last Frontier never fails to offer something wonderful with each new day.

- WORKSHOP STAFF -

James
(Van Detailer)

a man smiling for the camera

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)

a man wearing a hat

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.