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"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 exceptional 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;
introductory psychology; 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.
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 “Should My Child Hunt?” 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.
“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. ISCES launched projects to successfully propagate cheetahs and red wolves.
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.
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
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.
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