I'm not convinced either, because there are cases of animals found after long periods of starvation when the animal probably knows it can find food at home. But

I'm not convinced either, because there are cases of animals found after long periods of starvation when the animal probably knows it can find food at home. But it is possible that those animals are driven to hide in fear instead of braving a return to their home. Also the ones that never return may have just died instead of being truly lost. There lots of dangers out there. And there's also cases of theft.