In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet from a host at a first hop router in a network site, the first hop router in communication with a core network and operable to encapsulate packets received from the host for transmission to a remote network site, setting a status for the host in a table at the first hop router as active, starting a timer for the host at the first hop router, transmitting a probe message from the first hop router to the host if a packet is not received at the first hop router from the host before the timer expires, updating the status of the host at the table based on whether a response message is received from the host, and using the host status to detect host migration. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.