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The expansion of human activity forces species to co-exist with people in human-modified landscapes (HMLs). However, living in HMLs demands behavioral adaptations, and the proximity between wildlife and people heightens human–wildlife conflicts. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a thriving rodent species in HMLs in Brazil and as such, is involved in human–wildlife conflicts, such as vehicle collisions and transmission of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). Despite their public importance, the effects of HMLs on capybara movement behavior have never been investigated. Our study aimed to investigate changes in home range, ranging pattern, and activity, for capybaras in six HMLs and two natural landscapes (NLs) by monitoring capybaras with GPS collars. We found home ranges 2.43 times greater in NLs than in HMLs and differences in ranging pattern in HMLs. Capybaras tended to be more nocturnal and move shorter distances across HMLs than NLs. Our results confirm the impacts of the HMLs altering capybara movement. The aggregation of capybaras in very small home ranges might imply on greater risks of tick infestations. In addition, capybara–vehicle collision may be increased during capybaras’ nocturnal activity. Therefore, we recommend that transportation agencies avoid the construction of transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, airstrips) in capybaras’ home ranges, which should be of restricted access to people in BSF endemic areas.

We estimated home range size and overlap and activity patterns of ocelots in a protected subtropical forest, the Iguaçu National Park (INP), in southwestern Brazil using a long-term dataset from 1990 to 2001. We expected that male ocelots would have larger home ranges than females and that ocelots would be primarily nocturnal. In general, we found large home ranges sizes, with male home ranges larger than females, and significant intra and intersexual overlap. In addition, ocelots were more active during crepuscular hours. The observed larger home ranges than in other sites and significant overlap observed may reflect weak territoriality of ocelots in our study. The activity patterns observed may reflect an increase in the consumption of more diurnal and crepuscular prey species, such as lizards and agoutis. The weak territoriality and more crepuscular activity patterns may be indicatives of the flexibility of this felid species’ ecology.