Privacy policy

Southeastern Reptile Conservation ("SERC," "we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization based in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This policy explains what information we collect through our website, southeastreptile.org, how we use it, and the choices you have. We value your privacy and collect only what we need to do our work.

How we handle animal report data

When you report an animal to us, you trust us with two sensitive things: your contact details and the location where a wild animal was found. We treat both with care.

• Locations stay confidential. We never publish where an animal was found, rescued, or released. Precise locations can be used to poach wild turtles and other reptiles, so this is a conservation safeguard as much as a privacy one. Stories on our site and social media describe places at the city or county level at most.
• Access is limited. Report details are seen only by SERC's permitted rehabilitators. Volunteers do not have access to intake reports.
• Records live in WRMD. Our intake form and animal records run on Wildlife Rehabilitation MD (WRMD), a records system built for permitted wildlife rehabilitators. WRMD's own privacy policy governs how it protects data on its platform.
• What we report to the state. As a permitted rehabilitator, we file an annual report with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). It includes the number and species of animals we took in. It does not include finder names, contact details, or the locations where animals were found. DWR can also inspect our full intake records directly, for example during a permit inspection, and we provide them when DWR specifically requests them.
• Nothing else, unless the law requires it. We do not share report data with anyone else except in the limited cases listed under "How we share information" below, such as a legal requirement or an emergency involving the safety of a person or animal.

If you want to know what we hold about a report you made, or want it corrected or deleted (subject to the records we are required to keep), email info@southeastreptile.org.

Information we collect

We collect information in a few limited ways:

• Animal reports and intake. When you report an injured, orphaned, or displaced animal, we collect the details you provide, such as your name, phone number, email address, the location where the animal was found, and a description of the situation. Our public animal report form is provided by Wildlife Rehabilitation MD (WRMD), and the information you submit is stored in our WRMD account.
• Contact and volunteer inquiries. When you email us or use a form to get in touch, we receive the name, email address, and message you provide.
• Email updates. If you sign up for our email list, at an event or on our sign-up page, we keep your name and email address so we can send you SERC updates a few times a year. We use that address only for SERC updates, we never sell or share it, and every email includes a way to unsubscribe. You can also ask us to remove you at any time by emailing info@southeastreptile.org.
• Donations. When you donate, our payment processors (such as Zeffy, PayPal, or others we may use) collect and process your payment information directly. We do not see or store your full payment card details.
• Automatically collected usage data. Like most websites, we collect basic, non-identifying analytics about how visitors use the site (for example, pages viewed and general location), described under "Analytics" below.

How we use your information

We use the information you provide only to carry out our mission and to respond to you. Specifically, we use it to:

• Respond to animal reports and coordinate rescue, intake, and rehabilitation.
• Meet recordkeeping and reporting requirements for wildlife intake under the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and our permit conditions.
• Reply to questions, volunteer inquiries, and other messages.
• Send email updates to people who have signed up for them.
• Process and acknowledge donations.
• Understand and improve how the website is used.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information, and we do not use the information you submit for animal intake for any purpose beyond the care of that animal and the recordkeeping required of us.

How we share information

We share personal information only in these limited circumstances:

• Service providers. We use trusted third-party services to operate, including WRMD (animal intake records), our donation processors, email, and website hosting. These providers handle information only as needed to provide their service to us.
• Wildlife authorities. As a permitted rehabilitator, we file an annual report with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources listing the number and species of animals we took in. It does not include finder contact details or locations. DWR may also inspect our full intake records on request, as our permit allows. Beyond that, we share records with authorities only when the law requires it.
• Legal requirements. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety of people or animals.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect standard internet log information and aggregated visitor behavior. This information is processed in a way that does not identify you personally. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by disabling cookies in your browser settings.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use them primarily for the analytics described above. Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies through their settings. Disabling cookies will not prevent you from using the core parts of our site.

Third-party links and embedded forms

Our site links to and embeds services operated by others, including our WRMD animal report form, donation platforms, and social media. When you interact with these, their own privacy policies apply. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of any third-party service you use.

Children's privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

How we protect your information

We take reasonable measures to protect the information you share with us and limit access to it. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to safeguard your information and to use providers that do the same.

Your choices

You may request that we correct or delete the personal information we hold about you, subject to any records we are legally required to keep as a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. To make a request, or if you have any questions about this policy, contact us at info@southeastreptile.org.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review it periodically.

Contact us

Southeastern Reptile Conservation
Hampton Roads, Virginia
info@southeastreptile.org