Hi LFS
You’ll find that some hogs, males in particular, will fight if another hog comes into his personal space. It isn’t always to do with food and females. But they are more likely to fight in feeding areas, because that is where they are most likely to meet other hogs. I have also seen males fighting on video nowhere near the food. They are solitary animals and it isn’t normal for them to gather together in numbers (other than when they are young) – in that respect we are potentially inadvertently changing their behaviour by providing food.
Re. recognising the hogs. You would be better of trying to use their natural markings rather than size and behaviour, although that can sometimes help. But size and behavour can be misleading – they grow and also can look quite different in size when they change shape depending on what they’re doing. If you look closely you will see there are numerous markings/colourings, etc. – many on their faces which, in combination, make it quite easy to identify a hedgehog – especially in the small numbers that visit a garden.
