Terms of Use
Effective Date: August 11, 2026
Gopher Tortoise Watch is operated by Conservancy Watch LLC, doing business as Gopher Tortoise Watch (“Gopher Tortoise Watch,” “the App,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By downloading, accessing, creating an account, or using the App, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the App.
1. Purpose
Gopher Tortoise Watch is an independent citizen science platform designed to collect observations of gopher tortoises, burrows, habitat conditions, and related wildlife information to support conservation, education, research, and long term monitoring. The App is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The App and its data must never be used in any way that harms tortoises, wildlife, or their habitat.
2. Service Updates
We continually improve Gopher Tortoise Watch. Features, functionality, design, and content may change over time as the App is updated. We welcome your feedback through the Contact Us section of the App.
3. Eligibility: Adults Only (18+)
This App and platform are strictly for adults. You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account, submit observations, or otherwise use the App. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly permit anyone under the age of 18 to use the platform, and we reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate any account we believe belongs to a person under 18.
4. No People in Photos
Photographs submitted to Gopher Tortoise Watch must contain only tortoises, burrows, habitat, or related wildlife and environmental features. You may not upload any photograph that contains a person or any identifiable part of a human body, including faces, hands, arms, legs, or feet.
To protect the privacy of others, every uploaded photo is automatically screened, and any image that appears to contain a person is hidden from public view and held for human review. Photos containing people may be rejected or removed. Repeated attempts to upload images containing people may result in suspension or permanent termination of your account.
5. Protection of Tortoises and Wildlife: No Harm, No Exploitation
Gopher Tortoise Watch exists solely to help protect, study, and conserve gopher tortoises and their habitat. Gopher tortoises and their burrows are protected by law.
You expressly agree that you will not use the App, its features, maps, location data, or any information obtained through it to:
- Locate, approach, disturb, harass, capture, collect, feed, relocate, injure, poach, or kill any tortoise or other wildlife.
- Damage, collapse, excavate, or otherwise interfere with any burrow.
- Sell, trade, or attempt to profit from tortoises, wildlife, their parts, or their locations.
- Sell, license, redistribute, or commercially exploit any data, photographs, or location information obtained from the App.
- Use the App or its data for any purpose intended to harm wildlife or the environment.
This platform and its data are provided for conservation, research, and education only. Any use of the App or its data to harm tortoises or wildlife, or to profit from them, is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate and permanent termination of your account and may be reported to wildlife authorities or law enforcement.
6. User Responsibilities
You agree to:
- Submit information that is accurate to the best of your knowledge.
- Respect wildlife and natural habitats.
- Follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Never disturb, harass, capture, feed, relocate, or otherwise interfere with wildlife while using the App.
- Obtain permission before entering private property.
- Use good judgment and prioritize your personal safety at all times.
7. Outdoor Activities and Assumption of Risk
Using this App may involve outdoor activities that include inherent risks, including wildlife encounters, uneven terrain, water hazards, extreme weather, insects, falling vegetation, vehicle traffic, and other natural or man made hazards.
You voluntarily assume all risks associated with your activities while using the App. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Conservancy Watch LLC is not responsible for injuries, property damage, illness, or death arising from your outdoor activities associated with use of the App.
8. No Emergency Use
This App is not intended for emergency response or emergency communications. Do not rely on this App during emergencies. Always contact the appropriate emergency services when necessary.
9. Observation Data
You retain ownership of photographs and content that you submit. By uploading observations, photographs, comments, or other materials, you grant Conservancy Watch LLC, doing business as Gopher Tortoise Watch, a perpetual, worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, display, and create derivative works from your submissions for:
- Conservation
- Scientific research
- Education
- Publications
- Reports
- Presentations
- Outreach
- App improvements
Observation data may be reviewed, corrected, validated, reclassified, or removed by authorized reviewers or administrators.
10. Automated Photo Screening and Human Moderation
To protect privacy and keep the platform safe, uploaded photographs are automatically screened on our own servers to detect whether a person may appear in an image, including the possible presence of a face, hand, arm, leg, or other visible part of a person.
This screening runs entirely within our own infrastructure. Photos are not sent to any third party or external service for this screening. We do not use facial recognition to identify individuals and do not create or store biometric identity data.
Photos that appear to contain a person, or that are reported by users, are withheld from public view and reviewed by an administrator, who may approve, hide, or permanently remove the content. We may remove content that we determine to be inappropriate, unlawful, objectionable, or in violation of these Terms.
11. Accuracy Disclaimer
Maps, GPS locations, observation records, habitat information, and other content may contain inaccuracies or errors. No warranty is made regarding the completeness, reliability, availability, or accuracy of information within the App. Users are responsible for independently verifying information before relying upon it.
12. No Professional Advice
Nothing within the App constitutes legal, scientific, veterinary, wildlife management, engineering, surveying, environmental consulting, or regulatory advice. Always consult qualified professionals when expert advice is required.
13. Acceptable Use
You agree that you will not:
- Upload photographs containing a person or identifiable human body part.
- Use the App or its data to locate, disturb, harm, capture, sell, or profit from tortoises or other wildlife.
- Submit knowingly false observations.
- Upload unlawful, defamatory, abusive, threatening, offensive, or otherwise objectionable content.
- Violate wildlife protection laws.
- Trespass onto private property.
- Interfere with the operation or security of the App.
- Attempt unauthorized access to systems or data.
- Use automated software or bots to submit observations.
- Misrepresent wildlife observations.
14. User Content
You represent and warrant that you own or have permission to upload submitted content, that your submissions do not contain a person or identifiable human body part, that your submissions do not infringe upon the rights of others, and that your submissions comply with applicable laws. You remain responsible for your submissions.
15. Intellectual Property
The App, software, design, graphics, logos, branding, text, databases, and original content are owned by Conservancy Watch LLC or used under applicable license and are protected by intellectual property laws. No portion of the App may be copied, reproduced, modified, distributed, reverse engineered, or commercially exploited without prior written permission, except as permitted by applicable law.
16. Privacy
Your use of the App is also governed by our Privacy Policy.
17. Third Party Services
The App may utilize third party services, including mapping providers, cloud services, analytics providers, and authentication services. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or operation of third party services to the extent permitted by applicable law.
18. Suspension and Termination
We reserve the right, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate your account and remove your access to the platform for violations of these Terms, including uploading prohibited photos, misusing wildlife data, attempting to harm tortoises or wildlife, or engaging in conduct harmful to the platform, its users, or wildlife.
We may remove observations or content that we determine are inaccurate, inappropriate, unlawful, objectionable, or harmful to the integrity of the platform.
19. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CONSERVANCY WATCH LLC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AND AVAILABILITY. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE APP WILL BE ERROR FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
20. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CONSERVANCY WATCH LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS GOPHER TORTOISE WATCH, AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS, CONTRIBUTORS, LICENSORS, AND PARTNERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE USE OF THE APP.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100) OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO USE THE APP DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
21. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Conservancy Watch LLC, doing business as Gopher Tortoise Watch, and its owners, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, licensors, affiliates, and partners from claims, damages, liabilities, losses, expenses, or attorneys’ fees arising from your use of the App, your submitted content, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of applicable laws.
22. Changes to These Terms
We may modify these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the App after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.
23. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action arising from these Terms shall be brought in the appropriate state or federal courts located in Florida, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
24. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
25. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Conservancy Watch LLC, doing business as Gopher Tortoise Watch, regarding your use of the App.
26. Contact Us
Questions regarding these Terms may be submitted through the Contact Us section of the App.
Conservancy Watch LLC
Doing Business As Gopher Tortoise Watch
