Patrick Valkenburg was born in South Africa in 1950 and emigrated to the United States in 1960. He moved to Alaska in 1972 and became a Certified Wildlife Biologist. After a 28-year career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, including serving as Research Coordinator and then Deputy Commissioner, he started a flying business specializing in wildlife surveys. He and his wife Audrey Magoun continue to run their wildlife consulting business (Wildlife Research and Management).