Hi Julia
It’s lovely to hear that you’ve been enjoying having the hedgehogs around. It is quite likely that they have gone to hibernate, although not a certainty. Around here the adults have all disappeared and there are just a couple of hoglets, left. I am happy that they’re big enough now, so will just wait to see if they decide to hibernate. Last year one didn’t!
I have found that since there aren’t so many adult hogs around, the cats are taking full advantage and in the last couple of weeks have increased their number of visits. I never knew there were so many cats around until I started seeing them on video! So it is possible that it’s cats eating the food.
I don’t think the hogs would be put off visiting nearer the house. The hoglet here last year visited in well below zero temperatures. Sometimes it’s best not to leave food near a hog house which you are hoping they nest in. They may see it as attracting other hogs and potentially predators and so it may deter them from nesting there. I would be inclined to leave the food nearer the house again and stop that at the end of the garden. You may need to move it gradually towards the back door again. Then, at least, you have more of a chance of keeping an eye on it and seeing if cats or even rats could be eating it. I usually leave food out for a couple of weeks, at least, after I’ve seen the last hog. Some people leave food out all winter in case. Leaving water out all winter is even more important in case a thirsty hog comes out of hibernation.
If they have gone to hibernate already, it’s just a case of waiting and hoping that they return safe and well in the Spring.
Good luck.
