Wild Divergence: Molina's Hog-Nosed Skunk (Conepatus chinga) and South American Coati's (Nasua nasua) Responses to Landscape Changes in the Highly Neglected Uruguayan Savannah

Understanding species responses to environmental changes is vital for effective conservation, especially in vulnerable regions like the Uruguayan Savannah in South America. This study focused on two often overlooked species: the South American coati (Nasua nasua) and Molina's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga). We deployed 90 camera traps across 15 sites in both Brazilian and Uruguayan sectors of the ecoregion to investigate the effects of land cover types (forests, grasslands, farmland and silviculture) and human density on species occupancy. Using occupancy models, we assessed activity patterns and landscape transition histories, generating innovative occupancy maps to inform conservation policies. The South American coati occupancy is positively correlated with forest areas but negatively with grasslands and crop farming (p < 0.05). In contrast, Molina's hog-nosed skunk exhibited a positive response to grasslands and crop farming, but a negative response to forests (p < 0.05). Estimated occupancy for coatis was 0.141 (0.041–0.420), while for skunks, it was 0.377 (0.200–0.610). Coatis were found only in seemingly pristine areas, whereas skunks adapted to previously human-used areas. Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts for coatis while recognising the skunk's resilience to landscape alterations. This research provides critical insights for guiding conservation strategies in threatened ecoregions.