Nature Tools Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 19, 2026
Effective Date: May 19, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Nature Tools, LLC (“Nature Tools,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, stores, and protects personal information in connection with our websites, mobile applications, desktop plugins, subscription services, downloads, customer accounts, support channels, and related products and services.

This policy applies to Nature Tools products and services, including, where applicable, Montana Field Guide, Fieldmark, Flyway, Place, NaturalistTripper, Bedrock, iNat Publish Pro, GeoPlace, Glacial Lake Missoula Simulator, the Nature Tools website, and related software, content, downloads, and support services.

This Privacy Policy is intended as a practical working policy for Nature Tools, LLC. It is not legal advice and should be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication.

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1. Who We Are

Nature Tools builds field-focused software and reference tools for naturalists, birders, photographers, geologists, educators, outdoor users, and people who care about the natural world.

Controller / Business:
Nature Tools, LLC
Mailing Address: 13965 Sapphire Drive, Apt. B
Website: naturetools.com
Email: privacy@naturetools.com

For purposes of applicable privacy laws, Nature Tools may act as a “controller” when we determine why and how personal information is processed. Some third-party service providers may act as “processors” or service providers when they process information on our behalf.

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2. Our Privacy Position

Nature Tools is built around a simple privacy principle: collect only what is needed, keep as much as practical on-device, avoid unnecessary tracking, and do not sell user data.

Our default posture is:

• We do not sell personal information.
• We do not use personal information for targeted advertising.
• We do not use ad-tech SDKs to track users across unrelated apps or websites.
• We do not make automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you.
• We prefer local-first storage where technically feasible.
• We process location, photo, EXIF, observation, or field-note data only as needed to provide the service, improve reliability, support user-requested workflows, or comply with law.
• When you choose to publish or sync data to third-party services, those services’ own privacy practices also apply.

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3. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on which Nature Tools product or service you use.

A. Account and Contact Information

We may collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Username or account identifier
• Billing contact information
• Support contact information
• Login or authentication information
• Product registration information
• Communication preferences

We collect this information when you create an account, subscribe, download a plugin, contact support, join a mailing list, request information, or otherwise communicate with us.

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B. Subscription, Purchase, and Transaction Information

If you buy, subscribe to, renew, or download a paid product, we may receive or process information such as:

• Product purchased or downloaded
• Subscription plan
• Renewal status
• Transaction identifiers
• Purchase date
• License or entitlement status
• Refund or cancellation status
• App Store, WooCommerce, payment processor, or subscription-platform metadata

We do not intentionally collect or store full payment-card numbers. Payment information is generally processed by third-party payment platforms, app stores, or subscription providers.

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C. Device, App, and Diagnostic Information

We may collect technical information needed to run, secure, troubleshoot, and improve our products, such as:

• Device type
• Operating system
• App version
• Plugin version
• Browser type
• Crash logs
• Error logs
• Diagnostic events
• Performance data
• Installation or update status
• Approximate device or network information
• IP address where needed for security, website operation, analytics, or fraud prevention

Some Nature Tools products may collect little or no diagnostic information. Others may use diagnostics or crash reporting to fix bugs and improve reliability.

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D. Location and Geospatial Information

Many Nature Tools products are map-aware, field-oriented, or place-based. Depending on the product and your settings, we may process:

• GPS coordinates
• Saved places
• Map pins
• Routes
• Region selections
• Search locations
• Observation locations
• EXIF location metadata from photos
• Elevation, slope, aspect, landform, watershed, geology, habitat, weather, or other place-derived context
• Location queries sent to map, geocoding, biodiversity, geology, weather, or terrain services

Precise location can be sensitive. Coordinates may reveal where you live, where you travel, private-land access, sensitive species locations, research sites, or other field activity patterns.

We process precise location only when you choose to use a feature that requires it, such as enabling location permissions, importing geotagged media, saving a field location, creating a map-based report, publishing an observation, planning a route, or requesting location-based natural history information.

You can limit location processing by changing device permissions, removing location metadata from photos before using them, avoiding location-based features, deleting saved places, or contacting us with a privacy request.

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E. Photos, Audio, Media, EXIF, Field Notes, and Observation Data

Some Nature Tools products may allow you to import, analyze, organize, publish, or store field media or observations. Depending on the product, we may process:

• Photos
• Audio recordings
• Video files
• Image metadata
• EXIF metadata
• Date and time captured
• GPS coordinates embedded in media
• Camera and lens metadata
• Observation notes
• Species names or taxonomic information
• Identification results
• Confidence scores
• Comparison results
• Saved species, lists, reports, logs, or field records

We do not use photos or recordings to identify a person unless a specific product feature clearly says otherwise and you consent. Nature Tools products are intended for natural history, field documentation, photography, and place interpretation—not personal biometric identification.

Do not upload or submit images, recordings, or notes containing private personal information unless it is necessary for your use of the service.

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F. API Tokens, Credentials, and User-Supplied Keys

Some products may allow you to connect to third-party services or use optional credentials, such as:

• iNaturalist credentials or tokens
• eBird API tokens
• GBIF-related queries
• User-supplied API keys
• Map or geospatial service credentials
• AI-service credentials
• Lightroom or publishing-service credentials

Where practical, we store credentials locally on your device or in secure platform storage. When credentials must be transmitted to provide a feature, we use them only for the requested function, such as syncing, publishing, retrieving observations, validating a subscription, or accessing a third-party service you selected.

If you provide a credential for a third-party service, that third party’s terms and privacy policy also apply.

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G. Website, Cookie, and Analytics Information

When you visit a Nature Tools website, we may collect:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device type
• Referring page
• Pages viewed
• Approximate region
• Cookie identifiers
• Security logs
• Form submissions
• Commerce or checkout-session data
• Newsletter signup data
• Analytics information

We may use cookies or similar technologies for:

• Website functionality
• Security
• Login sessions
• Shopping cart and checkout
• Subscription management
• Download access
• Basic analytics
• Fraud prevention
• Remembering user preferences

We do not use cookies for cross-site targeted advertising.

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H. Support and Communications

If you contact us, we may collect:

• Your name
• Email address
• Message content
• Attachments
• Screenshots
• Error logs
• Device or software details
• Product license or subscription information
• Any other information you choose to send

Please do not send unnecessary sensitive personal information in support requests.

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4. Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect

Nature Tools does not intentionally collect the following unless you voluntarily provide it or a specific lawful use requires it:

• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Government identification numbers
• Full payment-card numbers
• Bank account numbers
• Health insurance numbers
• Medical identification numbers
• Biometric identifiers for identifying a person
• Race or ethnic origin
• Religious beliefs
• Citizenship or immigration status
• Sexual orientation
• Information about a person’s sex life
• Health diagnoses

If you accidentally provide unnecessary sensitive information, we may delete it or retain only what is needed to complete your request, comply with law, prevent fraud, or maintain security.

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5. How We Use Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• Provide Nature Tools products and services
• Operate websites, apps, plugins, subscriptions, downloads, and accounts
• Process purchases, subscriptions, renewals, cancellations, and refunds
• Verify licenses, entitlements, and product access
• Provide support and respond to inquiries
• Enable map, location, identification, reference, publishing, or reporting features
• Process user-requested photo, EXIF, observation, field-note, or geospatial workflows
• Sync, publish, or retrieve data from third-party services when you direct us to do so
• Improve reliability, performance, accessibility, and user experience
• Diagnose crashes, bugs, and technical issues
• Maintain security and prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access
• Send service-related communications
• Send marketing communications only where permitted and with appropriate choices
• Comply with legal obligations
• Enforce terms, licenses, policies, and agreements
• Protect the rights, safety, and property of Nature Tools, users, and others
• Generate aggregated or de-identified information that does not reasonably identify you

We do not process personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purposes disclosed in this Privacy Policy unless we obtain consent or the processing is otherwise permitted by law.

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6. Location, Photos, and Field Data

Nature Tools products may process field data that is unusually sensitive because it can connect a person to a place, a timestamp, a route, a private property boundary, a rare species, a research location, or a repeated outdoor pattern.

For that reason:

• We try to minimize collection of precise location data.
• We prefer on-device processing where practical.
• We process geospatial information only when needed for the feature you use.
• We encourage users to think carefully before publishing precise locations to public services.
• We may obscure, omit, or recommend caution around sensitive species or sensitive places when a product supports that functionality.
• You remain responsible for deciding whether to publish exact coordinates, photographs, or field notes to third-party platforms.

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7. AI, Automated Analysis, and Identification Tools

Some Nature Tools products may use automated analysis, machine learning, computer vision, language models, or other AI-assisted tools to help with identification, interpretation, summaries, reports, or field guidance.

When you use those features, we may process:

• Photos
• Audio
• Text prompts
• Observation notes
• Location context
• Date and time
• Taxonomic context
• Environmental context
• Output results
• Diagnostic information

AI-assisted outputs are informational and may be wrong. They are not legal, medical, financial, safety, regulatory, or emergency advice.

Nature Tools does not use automated processing to make decisions about you that produce legal or similarly significant effects, such as decisions about employment, housing, insurance, credit, education, criminal justice, health care, or access to necessities.

If a feature uses a third-party AI provider or a user-supplied API key, the relevant provider’s terms and privacy practices may apply. We will use such services only as needed for the feature you choose to use.

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8. How We Disclose Information

We may disclose personal information in the following circumstances.

A. Service Providers and Processors

We may share information with companies that help us operate Nature Tools, such as:

• Website hosting providers
• Email providers
• Customer-support tools
• App analytics or crash-reporting providers
• Payment processors
• Subscription-management providers
• App stores
• Download or licensing systems
• Cloud storage providers
• Security providers
• Map, geocoding, weather, terrain, geology, biodiversity, or similar data providers
• AI or analysis providers, if used for a feature you request

These providers may process information only as needed to provide services to us, protect security, comply with law, or complete the function you requested.

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B. Third-Party Services You Choose to Use

If you choose to connect, sync, publish, export, or submit information to a third-party service, we may disclose information to that service at your direction.

Examples may include:

• Publishing observations to iNaturalist
• Querying eBird
• Using GBIF data
• Accessing map or geocoding services
• Processing App Store subscriptions
• Processing WooCommerce subscriptions or downloads
• Using a user-supplied API key
• Exporting data to another app, plugin, file, or service

Once your information is sent to a third-party service, that service’s own privacy policy, terms, visibility settings, and data-retention rules apply.

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C. Legal, Safety, and Security Reasons

We may disclose information if we reasonably believe it is necessary to:

• Comply with law
• Respond to lawful requests
• Protect rights, safety, or property
• Detect, prevent, or investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, or technical issues
• Enforce our terms, licenses, or agreements
• Protect users or the public

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D. Business Transfers

If Nature Tools is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, sale of assets, reorganization, bankruptcy, or similar transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

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E. Aggregated or De-Identified Information

We may use or disclose aggregated or de-identified information that does not reasonably identify you. We do not attempt to re-identify de-identified information except as permitted by law.

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9. Sale of Personal Information and Targeted Advertising

Nature Tools does not sell personal information.

Nature Tools does not process personal information for targeted advertising.

Nature Tools does not use personal information for profiling in furtherance of automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

If our practices change, we will update this Privacy Policy, provide any legally required notice, and provide any legally required opt-out or consent mechanisms.

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10. Your Choices

You can control certain information through your device, app, browser, account, or third-party-service settings.

Your choices may include:

• Turning off location permissions
• Removing GPS metadata before importing or publishing photos
• Deleting saved places or local app data
• Deleting imported media
• Disconnecting third-party integrations
• Revoking API tokens
• Canceling subscriptions through the applicable platform
• Opting out of non-essential communications
• Disabling cookies where your browser allows
• Contacting us with a privacy request

Some features may not work without certain information. For example, a map-based report may require a location, a subscription download may require account information, and a publishing tool may require credentials for the destination service.

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11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and product:

• Local app data may remain on your device until you delete it, uninstall the app, or reset the device.
• Account and subscription records may be retained while your account or subscription is active and for a reasonable period afterward.
• Transaction records may be retained as needed for tax, accounting, fraud prevention, refund, and legal purposes.
• Support records may be retained as needed to resolve issues, improve products, and maintain business records.
• Crash logs and diagnostics may be retained for a limited period needed to troubleshoot and improve reliability.
• Published or exported information may remain with the third-party service you chose to use.
• Backups may retain deleted information for a limited period before deletion cycles complete.

If you request deletion, we will delete or de-identify information as required by applicable law, unless retention is necessary for legal, security, fraud-prevention, accounting, product-integrity, or other permitted reasons.

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12. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

Security measures may include:

• Platform-level encryption
• Secure credential storage where available
• Access controls
• Authentication controls
• Secure hosting
• Limited access to user information
• Monitoring for abuse or technical issues
• Use of reputable service providers
• Data minimization

No system is perfectly secure. You are responsible for protecting your devices, passwords, API keys, third-party accounts, and exported files.

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13. Montana Privacy Rights

If you are a Montana resident and applicable law applies, you may have the right to:

• Confirm whether we process your personal information
• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccuracies in your personal information
• Delete personal information about you
• Obtain a portable copy of personal information you previously provided to us
• Opt out of targeted advertising
• Opt out of the sale of personal information
• Opt out of profiling in furtherance of automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects
• Revoke consent where processing is based on consent
• Appeal a decision if we decline to act on your privacy request

Because Nature Tools does not sell personal information, does not use targeted advertising, and does not conduct legally significant automated profiling, some opt-out rights may not apply to our current practices. You may still contact us to confirm or exercise your rights.

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14. Privacy Rights for Other U.S. State Residents

Residents of other U.S. states may have similar privacy rights under applicable state law. Where required by applicable law, we will honor requests to access, correct, delete, obtain, or opt out of certain processing of personal information.

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15. How to Exercise Your Rights

To submit a privacy request, contact us at:

privacy@naturetools.com

Please include:

• Your name
• Email address associated with your account or purchase, if any
• The Nature Tools product involved
• The right you want to exercise
• Enough information for us to understand and verify the request

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests. We will not require you to create a new account to exercise your rights, but if you already have an account, we may require you to use that account or verify ownership of the relevant email address.

We will respond to verified requests within the time required by applicable law. For Montana residents, that generally means without undue delay and no later than 45 days after receiving the request, unless an extension is permitted.

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16. Appeals

If we decline to act on your request, you may appeal by emailing:

privacy@naturetools.com

Use the subject line:

Privacy Appeal

In your appeal, explain why you believe our decision should be reconsidered. We will respond to the appeal within the time required by applicable law. If your appeal is denied, we will provide information about how you may contact the appropriate regulator or attorney general where required by law.

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17. Authorized Agents

Where applicable law allows, you may designate an authorized agent to exercise certain privacy rights on your behalf.

We may require proof that:

• The agent is authorized to act for you; and
• You are the person whose personal information is the subject of the request.

We may deny requests that we reasonably believe are fraudulent, unverifiable, or unauthorized.

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18. Children and Minors

Nature Tools products are intended for general audiences, naturalists, students, educators, photographers, researchers, and outdoor users. They are not directed to children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, we will delete it or take other appropriate action.

Parents or legal guardians may contact us at:

privacy@naturetools.com

For minors under 18, we do not knowingly sell personal information, use personal information for targeted advertising, or use personal information for automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects. We process minors’ precise location information only when reasonably necessary for the product or feature being used and only for as long as reasonably necessary for that purpose.

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19. Email and Marketing Communications

We may send service-related emails, such as:

• Account notices
• Product updates
• Subscription notices
• Security notices
• Download or license information
• Support responses
• Policy updates

If you subscribe to marketing emails or newsletters, you may unsubscribe using the instructions in the email or by contacting us.

We will not sell your email address.

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20. Third-Party Links, Data Sources, and Public Platforms

Nature Tools products may link to, display, query, or interact with third-party websites, APIs, datasets, or services. Examples may include biodiversity databases, birding platforms, geospatial services, map providers, geology datasets, weather data sources, public agencies, app stores, payment platforms, and user-selected publishing destinations.

We do not control the privacy practices of third parties. Their privacy policies and terms apply to information they collect or receive.

If you publish observations, photos, coordinates, lists, or notes to public services, that information may become public depending on your settings and the destination service’s rules.

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21. International Processing

Nature Tools is based in the United States. If you use our services from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers operate.

Data protection laws may differ from those in your location.

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22. Accessibility and Language

We intend this Privacy Policy to be reasonably accessible and usable. If you need this policy in another format, contact us at:

privacy@naturetools.com

This policy is currently provided in English. If we offer a product or service in another language, we will provide the privacy notice in that language where required by applicable law.

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23. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

If we make material changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify affected users, such as updating the “Last Updated” date, posting a notice, sending an email, or providing in-app notice where appropriate.

If a material change affects personal information previously collected based on consent, we will provide any legally required opportunity to withdraw consent or make choices before materially different processing occurs.

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24. Contact Us

For questions, privacy requests, appeals, or concerns, contact:

Nature Tools Privacy
Nature Tools, LLC
13965 Sapphire Drive, Apt. B
Website: naturetools.com
Email: radd@naturetools.com