# Creek Critters — How healthy is your stream? > Identify stream macroinvertebrates to assess water quality. (iPhone/iPad app by Nature Forward, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creek-critters/id896125310 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Nature Forward, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1060530145) - Category: Education, Health & Fitness - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 25 App Store ratings · 13 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 33 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2014-07-15 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creek-critters/id896125310/reviews.md ## What is Creek Critters? Use Creek Critters to: · find the tiny critters (macroinvertebrates) that live in your stream · identify the critters using a visual key with line drawings and photos · automatically create a report on your stream’s health based on your findings · map your stream report A tool for education and community engagement! ## Key features - Identify stream macroinvertebrates - Visual identification key - Automatic stream health reports - Map stream health reports - Educational tool ## Recent user reviews (10 of 13) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creek-critters/id896125310/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Some flaws in the software *2020-10-01, version 5.1* This is a dandy program for beginners to learn identification of critters in a creek. However, it constantly asks the user to locate on a map places that don’t exist. I constantly get asked by the software to locate “lake Jeff” (note software capitalization error) on the map. I have never heard of this lake! ### 5/5 — Great with Kids! *2020-05-22, version 5.0.1* Very helpful when learning to ID critters with young learners. Thanks! ### 5/5 — Excited to be a nature detective *2020-05-22, version 5.0.1* Now that I've familiarized myself with this app- I can't wait to get outside and into my neighborhood stream to investigate. It will be such a learning experience and I love that I can contribute to the health of our water by monitoring the life that resides within. ### 5/5 — Easy and makes you feel smart! *2020-05-22, version 5.0.1* Wow! Who knew it was so simple to feel so smart?! This app makes it a breeze to discover what little critters live in the water so you know how healthy the water source is. Easy to use but beware - it’s addicting! And your kids will want to use it, too. It’s definitely easy enough for my 7 and 9 year old to master. ### 5/5 — Fun for families *2020-05-21, version 5.0.1* My kids had a blast splashing in the stream while learning some science. My husband, though, was the one who really “caught the bug” and was just fascinated by all the different critters living under rocks in our local stream. All it takes is an aquarium net and a few plastic containers to discover a new world! ### 5/5 — Great Macro App! *2020-05-21, version 5.0.1* Best app to ID macros and super easy to use! ### 5/5 — Awesome tool. Great source of information for identifying and teaching students *2020-04-29, version 5.0.1* I have been conducting training sessions for school kids. They love it. Convenient and easy to follow. Increases motivation to identify more macros. The new updates only enhance this excellent product. ### 5/5 — It keeps getting better! *2020-04-20, version 5.0* New version has many more options and is very user friendly! In this new era I think you should only collect TEN critters at a time to be safe! What a great activity to do with your kids right now. ### 5/5 — Great app, very interactive *2020-04-06, version 4.6* This app has gone through many iterations over the years in response to user feedback. It’s great for groups, individuals, and families (including families looking for exercise and time in nature while “social/physically distancing” from others during the Covid-19 pandemic) to learn how to identify the critters that live in streams. All instructions are included in the app and materials needed are very simple. Walks you through ID intuitively and rewardingly. You can stop at the easier level or go deeper and learn more specifics about what you’ve found. ### 2/5 — Too hard to use. *2015-08-13, version 1.3* I really wanted to like this app as I do stream monitoring and I can see that this app has the potential to help volunteers go through the procedures and do identification. But it doesn’t work well. Navigating through the app is too annoying; requires too much guesswork. Example: Some things that look like arrows are active but some are not so you wonder if you just have to press more accurately, harder, etc. Until you finally give up. Similarly, some pics are active, some aren’t. And so on. Obviously written by someone with little experience with UI design. ## Frequently asked questions about Creek Critters ### What is Creek Critters used for? Creek Critters is an educational tool designed to help users identify macroinvertebrates found in streams. By identifying these tiny creatures, users can automatically generate reports on their stream's health. ### How does Creek Critters help assess stream health? The app uses a visual key with drawings and photos to identify macroinvertebrates. The presence and types of these organisms are indicators of water quality, allowing the app to create a health report based on your findings. ### Is Creek Critters free to use? Yes, Creek Critters is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements, making it a completely free resource for education and stream monitoring. ### What devices support Creek Critters? Creek Critters is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to be accessible on Apple's mobile operating systems. ### How often is Creek Critters updated? The latest version of Creek Critters is 5.6, and it was last updated on April 5, 2023. This indicates a commitment to maintaining and improving the application. ### What is the age rating for Creek Critters? Creek Critters has an age rating of 4+. This suggests it is suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners with adult supervision. ### Can I map my stream health reports with Creek Critters? Yes, Creek Critters allows you to map your stream health reports. This feature helps visualize the health of different areas of your stream based on your collected data. ### What kind of learning methodology does Creek Critters use? Creek Critters employs a hands-on, inquiry-based learning methodology. Users actively engage with their environment by collecting data and interpreting results to understand ecological concepts. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 5.6 — 2023-04-05 Minor changes to reflect the developer’s name change to Nature Forward (from Audubon Naturalist Society). Fixes to image loading. ### 5.4 — 2022-09-01 Improve image downloads and stream health report mapping. ### 5.3 — 2020-12-12 App now loads new critter information in the background. Avoids saving duplicate records when signal is low. ### 5.2 — 2020-10-19 Corrections to "LookingFor" field values. ### 5.1 — 2020-09-03 • Enhanced macroinvertebrate identification with new photos and descriptions • Order-level identification options for caddisflies, dragonflies, mayflies and damselflies • Revised stream health algorithm ## Apps similar to Creek Critters | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Noble Experiences](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noble-experiences/id1483500720) | — | Free | Education | | [Brush Up: Toothbrush Trainer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brush-up-toothbrush-trainer/id967009000) | 3.0 (340) | Free | Education | | [PA AIS Field Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pa-ais-field-guide/id1448504422) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education | | [Anecdata.org](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anecdataorg/id1315666791) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Education | | [Flora of Virginia](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flora-of-virginia/id1150081157) | 4.8 (32) | $19.99 | Education | | [Symud Selog](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symud-selog/id1489737940) | — | Free | Education | ## Related topics [creek critters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/creek-critters) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*