Privacy

A short overview of what Yip & Howl stores and what is shown publicly.

What we show publicly

• General report details like animal type, neighborhood text, and timestamps.
• Map pins when a report includes a location (privacy mode is on by default for sightings; you can choose to turn it off for a more precise pin).
• Approved photos associated with a report.

What we keep private

• Missing report contact email is stored but not shown publicly.
• Messages sent to missing posts are not displayed publicly.

IP addresses and security

When you submit a wildlife sighting report, we store your IP address with that submission. We use it to rate-limit submissions, reduce spam and abuse, enforce IP bans when needed, and help generate a consistent anonymous-style reporter label for the feed. We do not sell IP addresses. Simply visiting the site without submitting a report does not add you to a "signup list." This applies to submitted reports and related security checks.

Admin visibility

To help with safety and moderation, the site administrator can view missing-post messages and contact fields in the admin dashboard. Use caution and avoid sending sensitive personal information.

Location guidance

Please do not submit exact home addresses. Use intersections or general areas. For sightings, privacy mode is on by default and can mask the precise location with a radius; you can turn it off if you prefer a more exact pin.

Data retention

Reports and messages may be retained to support community awareness and moderation. Content may be removed by the site administrator, and abusive traffic may be blocked.