Hi Charlie, Your description sounds quite typical of behaviour I’ve seen in my garden. During the 2023-4 winter, a hedgehog lived in one of the houses in the garden and ate regularly but suddenly vanished during February (no eating, not in house) with multiple hedgehogs starting to visit in March. For the 2024-5 winter, there were only 2 nights (very frosty) on which no hedgehog ate. This winter (2025-6) there was a period from November to end January during which a hedgehog visited on only 2 adjacent nights but hedgehog(s) have been visiting every night in February so far. Lots of variability! It’s known that they sometimes move house during the hibernation season which is likely to cause a break in routine, too. Like you, I always feel disappointed when they’re not around but keep food and water available so they know they’re still welcome!
Sam_
