Randall Zarnke

EmailPhoneAddressFairbanks , Alaska 99701United StatesBioDr. Randall L. Zarnke retired from the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game in 2002, where he had worked since 1978. His research interests involved the effects of diseases and parasites on population ecology of wildlife species. He provided diagnostic services for the staff and public on wildlife diseases and conducted disease and parasite surveys of wildlife species in Alaska.

Zarnke received his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science and Wildlife Ecology in 1978 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focused on latent viruses in snowshoe hares. He also received his M.Sc. from the same university. Through the Wildlife Society, Zarnke became a Certified Wildlife Biologist in 1981. He is a member of the Wildlife Disease Association and a member of the Speakers' Bureau for the Alaska Trapper's Association.

Zarnke is an avid Alaskan trapper and is knowledgeable about furbearer biology. He serves as president of the Alaska Trappers Association. He has recorded 'oral history' interviews with 187 veteran outdoorsmen (and -women). From these interviews, he put together a book entitled "Alaska Tracks" in 2013. The book has received universal acclaim.

Zarnke also serves as the president of the Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame. He coordinates an annual celebration of the sport, which is known as "Hockey Week In Fairbanks." He made a movie and has written a book about the history of hockey in Interior Alaska.

Zarnke is an experienced speaker and is comfortable presenting to a variety of audiences. His lecture topics include:

Furbearer Biology and Trapping in Alaska

Oral History of Hunting and Trapping in Alaska

The History of Hockey in Interior Alaska (book and movie)

Science Specialties

Oral history

Current Research

Gathering oral history interviews from veteran hunters, guides, fishermen, pilots, trappers and wildlife biologists of Alaska.