Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2026

CritterCross is a citizen science project dedicated to mapping wildlife-vehicle collisions across the United States. We take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and what we will never do with it.

What We Collect

When you use the CritterCross app, we collect the following:

• Account information: Your email address and password (stored securely by our database provider, Supabase). An account is required to submit reports.
• Location data: While the app is open on your screen, it uses your phone's location to show where you are on the map (the blue dot), to open the map near you, and to fill in the location of a new report. For CritterCross admins only, it is also used to send an alert when a recent report nearby needs a photo. Your live position stays on your phone: it is not sent to us or stored. The only location we keep is the one saved with a report you submit. CritterCross does not use your location in the background or when the app is closed.
• Report content: Species, number of animals, condition, road type, date, time, notes, and any photos you choose to attach.
• Waitlist email: If you join our waitlist on this website, we store the email address you provide.

What Other Users Can See

Reports are shared with the CritterCross community. The species, location, date, time, photos, and details of every submitted report are visible to other users on the community map and report list. Your email address is never shown to other users. Please do not include personal information in report notes or photos (for example, faces or license plates).

How We Use Your Data

Your data is used exclusively to support the mission of CritterCross:

• To map wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots across the U.S.
• To improve the accuracy and usefulness of the CritterCross app.
• To share collision data with wildlife researchers, conservation organizations, and transportation agencies. Report data, including photos, is published as an open dataset on our Data page under the CC BY 4.0 license. Each observer appears only as an anonymous number. The dataset does not include your email address, account details, or report notes.
• To send you app launch or update notifications, if you joined the waitlist.

We Will Never Sell Your Data

CritterCross will never sell, rent, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to any third party for commercial purposes. Your data exists to support conservation, not to generate revenue from advertising or data brokers.

Third-Party Services

CritterCross uses the following third-party services to operate:

• Supabase: Our database and account provider. Stores your account, reports, and photos on secured servers. See Supabase's Privacy Policy.
• iNaturalist: Provides the species list you search when identifying an animal. If photo identification is enabled, photos you choose to identify are sent to iNaturalist for processing. See iNaturalist's Privacy Policy.
• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): We send the approximate location of a report to GBIF to suggest species common in that area. No account information is sent. See GBIF's Privacy Policy.
• Maps and address lookup: Maps are displayed using Google Maps on phones and OpenStreetMap on the web. Your phone's built-in location service (Google on Android, Apple on iOS) converts a report's coordinates into a road name.

We do not use advertising networks, analytics trackers, or social media pixels.

Deleting Your Account

You can delete your CritterCross account in either of two ways:

• In the app: go to Account → Delete Account and confirm. Your account is deleted right away.
• By email: if you no longer have the app, email contact@crittercross.org from the email address you signed up with, with the subject "Delete my CritterCross account". We will delete your account within 30 days and reply to confirm.

What is deleted: your account and your email address.

What is kept: reports you submitted (species, location, date and time, photos) stay in the scientific dataset but are no longer linked to you. If you would also like your reports removed, email us and we will delete them too.

Data Retention

Report data (location, species, date/time, photos) is retained indefinitely as part of the scientific dataset. Account information is kept until you delete your account. Waitlist email addresses are retained until the app launches or until you ask us to remove them.

Children's Privacy

CritterCross is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our app, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Your Rights

You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal data we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@crittercross.org.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the app and its features evolve. Material changes will be noted with an updated date at the top of this page.

Contact

Questions or concerns about this policy? Reach us at contact@crittercross.org.