I started a similar way. An old lady in the neighborhood had been feeding cats for years and they kept reproducing. She decided to move and you can guess the rest. I have two left to trap - females. I can't do it in the snow and this temperature but will try again with them when it warms up...
I used to take care of a colony but over the past year I have trapped them, had them fixed and found homes or taken them to caretakers and no-kill shelters that work with them.
I used to spend considerable time talking to the cats, playing with them and winning their confidence. I'm down to one...
What a beautiful beautiful cat and so so good of you. That is how I got my first cat. It adopted me! I had always been a dog person. Now there is no going back.
so so sorry to hear that. Do you have a farm or a barn? Perhaps they saw cats. In many states it is illegal to dump animals. I agree that a sign that camera surveillance is in use will do the trick. You can even buy a dummy camera.
What will you do?
How old are these kittens? Kittens are far easier to socialize than adult cats. You run the risk of the colony running these youngster off and then they'll have to fend for themselves in the wild.
Hang in there. You are doing a wonderful thing. Your mother is your obviously priority but I'm sure your sons will help. It's beautiful when feral kittens respond.
Two of my TNRs disappeared for a few days but they returned. They were skittish for a while but wanted food. One became so friendly I took her inside and socialized her. She's now my third cat.
The TNRed alpha cat was still the alpha cat.