About Randall L. Eaton,
Ph.D.
“I have known Randy
well since 1973...a genius, innovative, caring...an exceptional leader...able
to bring the best out of people.”
James W. Foster, DVM, President, American Assoc Zoo Vets
“I have admired the
originality and boldness of your work...one of the few truly
humanistic
scientists.”
Edward
O. Wilson, Harvard
“I know him well. I have
taught with him. I have read his publications, though not all. I have seen him
work. I know his abilities… He is simply
one of the most committed, best organized, highest energy, and most interesting
people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
Craig
Thompson, Chairman of the Board, National Wildlife Federation
“He speaks
passionately about the interaction of people and wildlife in a civilized
society and the role of conservation in a contemporary world…a man of great
breadth and depth, a man who brings a unique perspective to higher education
and the field of conservation. Randy is a man of great heart and integrity. An
accomplished author and speaker, he is comfortable dealing with everyone from
youngsters to hard-nosed media types who've seen and heard it all… great
energy, wit, understanding and perseverance…”
Dan Small, Ph.D., Dan Small Outdoor Productions
Randall Eaton holds an international reputation in animal
behavior, wildlife conservation and human evolution. He also has made
contributions to environmental ethics, anthropology, history of science, semiotics,
prehistoric art, mythology, comparative religion, Native American studies and
men´s studies. Dr. Eaton has held faculty positions in zoology, psychology,
wildlife and fisheries, and humanities at University of Washington, University of Georgia, Florida Atlantic University, etc., and has held adjunct posts at University of Alberta, U.C.L.A., Oregon State University, Evergreen State College, etc. At University of Washington, Eaton´s overall instruction was rated by students among the 92nd
percentile of faculty campus-wide.
Courses taught: introductory psychology I and II, developmental psychology, educational psychology; general biology, zoology, wildlife biology, terrestrial ecology; forest recreation; mammalogy; marine mammalogy; animal behavior; sociobiology; human social behavior; environmental studies, environmental ethics, animals and attitudes; science and western civilization; hunting societies; scientist as philosopher; prehistoric art; science for humanists; philosophy of Ortega y Gasset; philosophy of education.
Adult education courses taught: cats, wild and domestic;
behavior of whales and dolphins; wildlife conservation; a circle of men; lions
and wolves, orcas and humans; pros and cons of hunting; zoo animal behavior.
Field studies conducted on: wood ducks; cheetah; Florida panther; whitetail deer;
golden eagle; bald eagle; peregrine falcon; Asian elephant;
and, orca whales.
Randall Eaton was nominated as Chief, Office of Endangered
Species, USDI, and in l981 was invited to apply for a tenured position in
vertebrate behavior at Harvard.
Two of the 15 books he authored or edited won national
awards. He has received awards for his outdoor magazine writing. Dr. Eaton
published 115 papers in refereed journals including Science, Journal
Wildlife Management, Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie, Evolution, J. History Behavioral
Sciences, etc. His popular communications have appeared in Sports
Illustrated, Animals, Africana, Safari, Bugle, IHEA Journal, North American
Hunter, Outdoor Edge, Oregon Outdoors, Mzuri Drumbeat ,Reno Gazette
Journal, Utne Reader, Magical Blend, Das Tier, etc. Many
websites post his writing; these include Hunt Network, IWMA, Huntinglife,
Conservation Force, etc.
Recent and currently in press writings include, “Modern
Hunters Are Stewards of Wildlife,” a chapter in Hunting: Opposing Viewpoints,
Greenhaven Press, 2007. Also
a chapter in Animal Ethics on cetaceans in captivity.
An excerpt from his latest book appeared in January in the magazine of
the United Methodist Men’s organization.
“He
may well be the next Loren Eiseley, who, until I read Dr. Eaton’s work,
in
my mind had no peer.”
Michael W. Fox, Humane Society of U.S.
“...an
important work...does not compromise accuracy and detail.”
John F. Eisenberg, Smithsonian magazine
“Selected in this issue as outstanding scientific/technical book of the year.”
Library Journal
“He’s
such a good story teller I thought he must be from the South.”
Ken Wilber, Editor, Shambala Press
He has received 13 awards for his TV documentary
productions. His film, “Orca – The Sacred Whale,” won first place among natural
history broadcasts in 2000. Randall Eaton also produced The Sacred Hunt, which
won 11 awards and is the all-time, top-selling production about hunting. It
received rave reviews in 176 newspapers and magazines in North America.
Sponsored by 18 hunter-conservation organizations, it converted anti-hunters including
a Hollywood screen-writer who wrote an article about her conversion in North
American Hunter.
“A
great documentary.”
The Nashville Network
“Convincing...well-filmed, well-edited celebration of
wildlife...recommended
for
all ages.”
Library Journal
“This
great video is among the best videos I have ever seen.”
New York Post
“Deserves
an Oscar.”
Marin Independent Journal
With Jon Young, Eaton is producing “The Next Kid in the
Woods” for national TV, a documentary which will communicate why tracking and
traditional outdoor recreation constitute the ideal medicine for “nature
deficit disorder.”
Single-handedly, he founded and presided over the
15,000-member Orca Society for the Study and Conservation of Marine Mammals,
headquartered at University of Washington. Randall conceived and edited the
Society´s popular science magazine, Orca – Whales and Humans, which was
widely acclaimed.
“Slick,
color, Orca purveys information and inspiration about America’s
favorite totem, the dolphins and whales.”
Co-Evolution Quarterly
“As
good as it is beautiful.”
Whale Protection Fund
Dr. Eaton conceived, published and edited the
interdisciplinary journal, Carnivore: Interfacing Biology, Anthropology and
Environmental Studies, the editorial board of which included Oxford´s Nobel
laureate, Niko Tinbergen, Harvard´s Pulitzer prize-winning author, Ed Wilson,
and Pulitzer prize-winning poet and environmental philosopher, Gary Snyder, and
the foremost evolutionary biologists and anthropologists in the world.
“Quality
format, wide-ranging scholarly papers and provocative editorials.”
New Magazine Review
Randall Eaton organized a lecture series on The Human/Animal
Connection with Gary Snyder, Michael W. Fox and others, and edited the
proceedings for publication. He also organized a lecture series and symposium
on Animals as Teachers with Snyder, the original human ecologist, Paul Shepard,
and anthroplogist Richard Nelson, among others.
“The best symposium I have been part
of.”
Gary Snyder
Starting in the early l970s, Randall organized and funded a
series of four international conferences on the world´s wild cats, their
behavior, ecology and conservation, and he edited the proceedings as The
World´s Cats. His efforts led to formation of the IUCN Cat Group (Eaton
served on the SSC of the IUCN), to protection of spotted cats from illicit
poaching, first in the US then internationally through CITIES. When subsequent
studies by himself and others indicated that the leopard was not endangered or
threatened in sub-Saharan Africa he led scientific efforts to get the leopard
reestablished as a trophy species so as to assist wildlife conservation in
third world nations. He conducted the first study of the economic importance of
trophy hunting to conservation of wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Tradition
of excellence in these volumes.”
Animal Behaviour
“Among efforts to preserve all cat species are the symposia organized by
Eaton...highly recommended.”
Quarterly Review of Biology
Dr. Eaton was a cofounder and president of ISCES (Institute
for Study and Conservation of Endangered Species), which conducted field
studies in Latin America of jaguar, ocelot and maned wolf, which indicated that
none of these species were threatened in Paraguay.
Eaton conceived and directed the Orca Project, a volunteer
study of wild orca whales, from l982 to 2003 in Puget Sound and northern British Columbia. Each summer 125 volunteers from North America and UK joined Eaton in the
field where they camped, assisted in field observations, cooked meals, caught
fish, received instruction in orca/dolphin/whale behavior, intelligence,
communication and conservation as well as interaction with humans across time and
space. Volunteers also learned about sacred traditions of native peoples and
were taught by them. Eaton and his volunteer crew actually befriended wild
orcas in l985, an event heralded in over 250 newspapers in North America.
“The
most meaningful experience of my life.”
Dr. Michael Schmidt
“You
offer more bubble gum for the brain than anyone I know.”
Steve Klaven, senior, Western Washington University
From 2005 to 2007, Eaton
conducted field research on a new race of orca which he discovered in Costa Rica.
Randall Eaton was a leader in the early 70s in redefining
zoo philosophy and goals toward naturalism and social behavior. He conceived
the Master Plan for the renovation of Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, first in
America to be elevated from a class B to a Class A zoo. He conceived,
designed, developed, directed and successfully promoted Wildlife Safari in
Oregon which received international recognition for being the first zoological
center in the western hemisphere to successfully breed the cheetah on a large
scale. Located six hours from the closest metro area, professional economic
analyses projected 160,000 visitors in the first year of operation of the
wildlife park, which actually attracted 300,000. Eaton is convinced that it was
his publicity tours including appearances or interviews on every major TV and
radio station and newspaper in the San Francisco Bay area, Seattle, Portland and Reno that accounted for the difference.
“More than anyone in the world, Randy was responsible during this
seminal period in providing leadership to the new philosophy of zoos of
all kinds by emphasizing naturalistic environments and meeting the
behavioral needs of animals.”
James W. Foster, DVM, President, Am. Assoc Zoo Veterinarians
“Always been impressed by his creativity, dedication...and excellent
understanding of the needs of both people and animals.”
David Hancocks, Director, Woodland Park Zoo
Eaton co-produced and wrote
the script for the world’s first self-guided tape tour for Lion Country Safari
and later for the safari park he directed in Oregon. He was a
planning consultant for
Northwest Trek in Washington State, an exhibit design consultant for the St.
Louis Zoo and co-conceiver of The Wolf Park. He served on the Conservation
Committee of the American Zoo Association. He also was the Director of the
Great Basin Zoological Society for which he conceived the plan for a
bioregional theme park about the native wildlife, history an cultures of the Great Basin.
For four years Eaton
presided over Wildlife International which conceived, developed and promoted
bioregional theme attractions which interfaced history, culture and natural
history. Concept and master plans were developed for “Mountain Kingdom” and
“Desert Kingdom” in Nevada, and for “Mayan Kingdom” in the Yucatan which was
developed as “Mundo Maya”
near Chichen Itza. Disney World adopted his concepts for
their wildlife attraction.
The speech he gave in 1971 at Game Conservation
International alongside Gov. John Connally and actor Jimmy Stewart was
broadcast by CBS TV National News.
“It was Dr. Randall L. Eaton of Purdue University who electrified
the audience.” San Antonio Light
The keynote address he gave
on “Why hunting is good for bad kids at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters annual convention resulted in national and international publicity
ranging from an appearance on “Canada AM” to interviews on CBC, BBC Radio
worldwide news, in all the national papers of Canada and several Toronto radio
stations. Thousands of parents contacted Eaton to know how to get their sons
involved in the outdoors. He has given seminars and/or keynotes at the annual
conferences of Safari Club International, CIC, Mzuri Safari Club, B.C. Wildlife
Federation, Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers Association of
America, SEAFWA, Quality Deer Management Association, Southeast Outdoor Press
Association, Western Hunting/Conservation Expo, Texas Outdoor Writers
Association and Ducks Unlimited’s Leadership Conference among others. In 2009
he gave the keynote at Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation as well as the
commencement address at the Regenerative Design Institute
He was invited to
participate in the White House Conference on the Future of North American
Wildlife Policy in October, 2008, and spoke at Viterbo University in Wisconsin that fall and gave a series of lectures and a workshop in February 2009 at University of Vermont. He gave the keynote at the OFAH 2010 convention in Toronto.
Since July of 2007, Randall
has lectured at Furman University, Eastern Kentucky University, Iowa State University, Sul Ross State, Tarleton State, West Virginia University, Utah State, University of Alberta, Sheridan College and its Gillette campus, Western Wyoming College, Viterbo and University of Vermont. He also was invited to speak at
Humboldt State University; University of Idaho, Oregon State University;
University of Washington, Unity College; California University of Pennsylvania.
In November of 2009, Eaton
gave the keynote and taught a workshop on youth hunting
and recruitment at the
annual convention of Wyoming chapters of The Wildlife Society,
Society for Range Management
and Conservation Districts in Cody. He also lectured
at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Sheridan College and the Gillette campus, Sheridan County Library and Western Wyoming College. His recent and forthcoming
schedule includes keynotes
and/or workshops at California Conservation Coalition,
Regenerative Design
Institute, Cincinnati Nature Center, Wild Sheep Foundation annual
conference, North Carolina chapter of The Wildlife Society, and annual meeting of Illinois’ Ducks
Unlimited.
PBS TV´s NOVA interviewed him at the Second CITIES in Berne about endangered species, and he starred in and co-produced an ABC TV News
award-winning serial for children, “Animals, Animals,Animals.” Fox TV National
News and CBS Radio national news interviewed him about orca whales. Randall
Eaton has been interviewed in Saturday Review, Sports Illustrated, Omni,
National Wildlife, LA Times, NY Times, NY Post, SF Examiner, Washington Post,
Seattle Times, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Oregonian, Eugene Register-Guard,
Sacramento Bee, Vancouver Sun, Denver Post, Rocky Mt News, etc., also on
NPR, CBC and BBC and numerous outdoor shows. In September and October 2008 he
is interviewed by Ducks Unlimited on 314 radio stations. He also has been
interviewed in North American Hunter and Outdoor America among
other outdoor publications.
“Randy
Eaton has more camera presence and audience appeal than
anyone we’ve worked with on the show.”
Jake Haselkorn, Producer, ABC TV National News
Dr. Eaton has lectured widely on college campuses, at zoos,
museums and aquariums, and to conservation organizations. He was named in the
year 2000 as Distinguished Conservationist Lecturer by North Carolina State University, and in 2002 as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at University of Alberta where he became an adjunct faculty member. Randall also has been invited to lecture
abroad at National University of Australia and Shanghai East Normal University. In 2007 he delivered the annual Brooks Lecture at West Virginia University.
“Dr. Eaton’s keynote address…was
terrific…everyone sitting on the edge
of their seats…there may not be a
more dynamic ambassador anywhere
for all that is right and good
about hunting.”
Stan Kirkland,
President, SEOPA
“A dynamic and inspiring
presentation.”
John J. Jackson, former
president of SCI, commenting
on Eaton’s address
to delegates from 70 nations, CIC
Convention in Slovenia
“Program was great and extremely well received by a
very diverse audience
...ability to combine the scientific with the philosophic and make it
popular...a very powerful speaker.”
Thane Maynard, Director of Conservation, Cincinnati Zoo
“Over the past 15 years I’ve video recorded many well known speakers –
Deepok Chopra, John Gray, Ram Dass – but rarely if ever have I heard
anyone speak so eloquently.”
Mark Waters, High Country Productions
“…drew a large and responsive audience. You had them enthralled and if
I
had not shut of the discussion, we would have been there until morning.
We
do a lot of programs but seldom get this kind of enthusiasm.”
David Kathka, Ph.D., Dean, Western Wyoming College
He was awarded a Sacred Pipe in the Cherokee tradition and
has spent much time learning from the Lakota. He underwent six of the seven
initiations of the Maya in the Yucatan, where he planned a bioregional theme
park and naturalistic dolphinarium.
Randall´s education includes a B.A. in biology, minors in
psychology and philosophy, a M.S. in ethology (animal behavior), and a Ph.D. in
ethology and wildlife ecology from Purdue University. He also conducted
graduate study at Oxford University under Nobel-laureate Niko Tinbergen and
received a Ford Foundation Fellowship in African Big Game Ecology and Behavior
at University of Nairobi. He undertook a three-year postdoctoral study in
sociobiology at University of Washington. His theories on the central role
hunting, competition with large predators and trophy hunting has had in
evolution of human social behavior have been praised by foremost biologists
Richard Alexander and Edward O. Wilson, among others. He also wrote a new
theory on the origin of art as trophyism which has been recognized by foremost
thinkers in human evolution and anthropology.
Grants written and received, over $400,000, from World
Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Walker and Lee
Foundation, Owings Foundation, National Institutes of Mental Health, Lion
Country Safari, Pope and Young, Conservation Force, Shikar-Safari Club, Safari
Club International, Winston, Oregon Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Humanities
Council, University of Washington Graduate School, Mzuri Safari Club
Foundation, FNAWS, Dallas Safari Club, etc.
Grant review: NSF; NIH; NIMH; National Geographic Society;
World Wildlife Fund.
Papers read at professional meetings (AAAS symposium;
American Society Mammalogists; AOU; Wildlife Society; American Psychological
Assoc.; AAZPA; Endangered Species Symposium; etc.) 2l to date.
Service: Board of Directors, Oregon Museum Science and
Industry; Board of Douglas County Red Cross; Conservation Committee, American
Association Zoos; IUCN Cat Group; Advisor to Conservation Force; Leader,
Wildlife Biology Explorer Troop; Basketball Coach, Country Day School; Wyoming
Humanities Council.
Other experience: deckhand, lifeguard, collegiate athlete,
seasonal ranger-naturalist in Grand Teton National Park, competitive
powerlifter, fitness director and personal trainer, Wildlife Biologist II,
Washington Game/Ecology Departments, heading up team study of status of marine
shoreland fauna; Field Biologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, wood duck
study; deer checker for Illinois and Missouri Departments of Conservation.
Randall Eaton has recently completed two books, one on Animal Teachers , the other on From Boys to Men of Heart.. He is
convinced that authentic rites of passage for adolescent males are critically
important for the recovery of a sane society and a healthy planet.
“From Boys to Men of Heart is a penetrating and masterful piece of
scholarship that interweaves at least a dozen disciplines into a profound
theory of male development.”
Michael Gurian, best-selling author of The Wonder of Boys
On behalf of Wildlore, Randall mentored people in Europe and
North America in the sacred hunt.
He is Senior Advisor to HEFTY: Hunter Education for Troubled
Youth, to which
the courts in Wyoming are sending juvenile offenders. In
2010, the Wyoming School for Boys (juvenile offenders) has approved HEFTY as a
program.
Randall Eaton has survived the above, and is still in good
health and spirits. His loves include the cetaceans, the larger felines,
fishing, hunting, mythology, indigenous peoples, poetry, pumping iron, his
sons, Drake and Robb, teaching, travel and wilderness. He likes people.
References from colleagues, former students, mentees and
field research volunteers available on request.
Phone 513-244-2826 or contact reaton@eoni.com. www.randalleaton.com.
