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Dr. Randall L. Eaton, Ph.D.

Scholar, Scientist, Conservationist, Educator, Filmmaker, Photographer

Introduction

Dr. Randall L. Eaton is internationally recognized for his work in animal behavior, human evolution, and wildlife conservation. With a career spanning over five decades, he has made substantial contributions to ethology, anthropology, ecology, semiotics, environmental ethics, zoo biology, Native American studies, and symbolic traditions. His interdisciplinary approach bridges science and spirit, often exploring the moral, emotional, and cultural relationships between humans and the natural world. His expertise extends across fields such as men’s studies, human behavioral evolution, and indigenous knowledge systems.

Academic and Teaching Career

Dr. Eaton has held teaching positions in psychology, zoology, wildlife sciences, and the humanities at institutions including the University of Washington, the University of Georgia, and Florida Atlantic University. His courses have ranged from animal behavior and sociobiology to environmental ethics and prehistoric art. Student evaluations once placed his instruction in the 92nd percentile campus-wide at the University of Washington.

He has also developed and taught adult education programs on topics such as dolphin behavior, wild cats, and the cultural dimensions of hunting and conservation.

“An excellent and stimulating teacher… never runs out of ideas or enthusiasm.”
— Ernest E. Provost, Professor of Zoology, University of Georgia

Conservation and Scientific Leadership

Dr. Eaton has organized and led multiple international conferences on wild cat conservation, making direct contributions to global efforts to protect endangered species. His leadership played a role in the founding of the IUCN Cat Group and the development of CITES protections for spotted cats.

He has conducted fieldwork across North and Central America, Africa, and Asia, including early research on orca whales and elephants. He also co-founded ISCES and the Asian Elephant Survival Foundation, directing efforts in species protection and public awareness.

“More than anyone in the world, Randy was responsible… in providing leadership to the new philosophy of zoos.”
— James W. Foster, DVM, President, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Orca Research and Cultural Understanding

For over 20 years, Dr. Eaton conducted field studies on orca whales in the Pacific Northwest. Working closely with wild orcas, he and his team developed a peaceful and respectful relationship with these animals. His documentary Orca: The Sacred Whale and book The Orca Project – A Meeting of Nations explore both the behavioral complexity and the cultural significance of orcas throughout human history.

Publishing, Film, and Public Communication

Dr. Eaton has authored or edited 15 books, two of which won national awards. His 115 academic articles have appeared in journals such as Science, Evolution, and the Journal of Wildlife Management. His writing has also been featured in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and Defenders of Wildlife News.

He produced over a dozen educational films, receiving 13 awards. His documentary Orca – The Sacred Whale won first place among natural history broadcasts in 2000. The Sacred Hunt, exploring the cultural and spiritual aspects of hunting, remains the best-selling production on the subject in North America.

“He may well be the next Loren Eiseley… until I read Dr. Eaton’s work, in my mind had no peer.”
— Michael W. Fox, Humane Society of the U.S.

Editorial and Institutional Impact

As editor and founder of Carnivore: Interfacing Biology, Anthropology, and Environmental Studies, Eaton brought together leading voices from across disciplines. The journal’s board included Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize-winning thinkers such as Niko Tinbergen, Edward O. Wilson, and Gary Snyder.

He also founded and directed the Orca Society, which attracted 15,000 members and published Orca: Whales and Humans, a popular science magazine lauded for both its content and design.

“Quality format, wide-ranging scholarly papers and provocative editorials.”
— New Magazine Review

Public Speaking and Cultural Outreach

Dr. Eaton has delivered keynote addresses and lectures across North America and internationally, speaking at universities, conservation organizations, and outdoor heritage groups. His talks combine scientific insight with philosophical depth, often addressing the moral and emotional relationships between humans and animals.

He was invited to the White House Conference on the Future of North American Wildlife Policy in 2008 and has spoken at institutions such as Harvard, the University of Alberta, and Humboldt State.

“There may not be a more dynamic ambassador anywhere for all that is right and good about hunting.”
— Stan Kirkland, SEOPA

Media Presence and Influence

Dr. Eaton has appeared on PBS NOVA, ABC, Fox National News, and Emmy-winning children’s programming such as Animals, Animals, Animals. He has been interviewed by Omni, Saturday Review, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and NPR.

“Randy Eaton has more camera presence and audience appeal than anyone we’ve worked with.”
— Jake Haselkorn, Producer, ABC TV National News

Philosophical and Ethical Contributions

Dr. Eaton integrates mythology, semiotics, and indigenous knowledge into his academic work. He teaches from A Course in Miracles, focusing on the ethical and philosophical dimensions of human experience. His later projects address rites of passage for young men, culminating in From Boys to Men of Heart, and he is a senior advisor to HEFTY (Hunter Education for Troubled Youth), a program adopted by juvenile courts and school systems across multiple states.

He also mentored participants in nature connection programs through Wildlore and continues to advocate for ethical and emotional connections to the wild.

“A masterful piece of scholarship that interweaves at least a dozen disciplines into a profound theory of male development.”
— Michael Gurian, author of The Wonder of Boys

Educational Background

Dr. Eaton holds:

B.A. in Biology (minors in Psychology and Philosophy)
M.S. in Ethology (Animal Behavior)
Ph.D. in Ethology and Wildlife Ecology from Purdue University

He pursued additional study at Oxford under Nobel laureate Niko Tinbergen and received fellowships for research in Africa. He also conducted a three-year postdoctoral program in sociobiology at the University of Washington.