"I have admired the originality and boldness of his work... One of the few truly humanistic scientists" - Edward O. Wilson, Harvard
"I have known Randy well since 1973... A genius, innovative, caring... An expressing leader... Able to bring the best out of people" - James W. Foster, DVM, President, American Assoc Zoo Vets
"Extremely energetic, very intelligent, and highly motivated...Never runs out of ideas or enthusiasm, and excellent and stimulating teacher." - Ernest E. Provost, Professor of Wildlife Biology, U. Georgia
"Thank you for all you do for the outdoors" - Johnny Morris, Founder, Bass Pro Shops
Randall Eaton holds an international reputation in animal behavior, wildlife conservation, human evolution and the philosophy, psychology and ethics of hunting. He also has made contributions to environmental ethics, anthropology, history of science, semiotics, prehistoric art, mythology, comparative religion, Native American studies and menīs 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, Eatonīs overall instruction was rated by students among the 92nd percentile of faculty campus-wide.
Courses taught: general biology, zoology, wildlife biology; forest recreation; mammalogy; terrestrial ecology; 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.
In l973, Randall Eaton was nominated as Chief, Office of Endangered Species, USDI, and in l981 he was invited by Edward O. Wilson to apply for a tenured position in vertebrate behavior at Harvard.
Two of the 13 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. Articles appearing soon in QDMA journal, FNAWS journal, Pheasants Forever, etc.
“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 including SCI, 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
Eaton is producing “The Next Kid in the Woods” for national TV, a documentary which will communicate why traditional outdoor recreation is 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 Societyīs 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 Oxfordīs Nobel laureate, Niko Tinbergen, Harvardīs 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 (before he became a humaniac) 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 worldīs wild cats, their behavior, ecology and conservation, and he edited the proceedings as The Worldīs 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, sponsored by SCI.
“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. Funded by Mzuru Safari Club, the field studies indicated that none of these species were threatened. 1972 – 76.
In the mid-80s, Eaton co-founded the Asian Elephant Survival Foundation which conducted field studies in Nepal and India, and which launched an international campaign publicizing the plight of the Asian elephant.
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
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
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, etc., and will be speaking at Texas Outdoor Writers Association and Ducks Unlimited’s Leadership Conference. He was invited by OFAH to deliver the keynote at the 2009 International Hunter Education Association annual conference in Toronto.
Other forthcoming keynote addresses include Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor Meeting, Fairbanks and Quebec Wildlife Federation. Lecture/workshop programs planned for 2008 include Auburn University; Humboldt State University; California Waterfowl Association; University of Alberta; University of Idaho; Oregon State University; University of Washington, Unity College; California University of Pennsylvania
Since July of 2007, Randall has lectured on hunting at Furman University, Eastern Kentucky University, Iowa State University, Sul Ross State, Tarleton State, West Virginia University and Utah State. Three of these programs were sponsored by SCI chapters.
PBS TVīs 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 and BBC and numerous outdoor shows. 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 affiliated with the Circumpolar Institute. 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.
Randallīs 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.
Other experience: deckhand, lifeguard, collegiate athlete, ranger-naturalist in National Park Service, 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 (and that girls also gain much benefit from hunting and shooting including universal virtues ranging from patience and courage to generosity and humility).
“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 mentors people in Europe and North America in hunting.
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 and field research volunteers available on request.
Phone 513-244-2826 or contact reaton@eoni.com.
