Hi Lindsay
Yes, interesting research, indeed. Although I’m not surprised that there was more activity in the gardens where food was supplied. But that doesn’t necessarily prove that it was because the food was there that they didn’t hibernate in the first place. Just that those that didn’t hibernate would be more likely to congregate where there was food available. Whether food being available encourages them not to hibernate might be difficult to prove one way or the other. But it will be interesting to find out whether it really is mostly youngsters who are not hibernating – which from anecdotal evidence sounds as if is the case. But anecdotal evidence isn’t always correct.
I tend to leave food for at least a couple of weeks after the last hog has disappeared. Most years all have hibernated and only two different years (a substantial minority of the total years) have any hogs decided not to. One each time. From that (admittedly very small sample) the food being available did not make any difference to their choice. But they were on both occasions that year’s hoglets who chose not to hibernate.
But yes, when I have had non-hibernators here, they have been out and about and seemingly unphased by even colder temperatures than you mention. The only days they missed visiting was when there was thicker snow than we normally get. When they could get through they returned. They both continued to grow through the winter, so that by the time their contemporaries (who did hibernate) returned the non-hibernators were quite a bit larger than them.
Glad to hear the hog there is doing well. There are reports that some of the hibernators are returning already, so he/she may have company again soon.
Good luck and happy hog watching.
