"It's a Chicago Fire Burning Bush. Please don't throw tomatoes, because EVERYONE has at least one fat and tall burning bush in their front yard within a 10 mile radius of my house..." It's your property and your decision, but think of it this way...If you saw many of your fellow motorists throwing out trash, would you also throw yours out? Having a Euonymus alatus in your yard is actually a little worse than throwing out litter, because litter doesn't exponentially reproduce, but, like littering on an already heavily littered highway, I guess one could make the excuse. Your state's Department of Environmental Conservation has given that plant a rating of "Very High" for its invasiveness (environmental damage) rating. I agree with Ken, your little dead voles didn't do that damage. Maybe you should club your rabbits. I can't tell if the damaged branches are coming from the main trunk or from ground level. If from the trunk, yes, I'd prune at the trunk (just outside the branch collar). If from the ground, I'd prune at or just slightly above ground level (IF I was going to keep the plant).

Thanks for the help guys. Still not sure what they are. I sprayed all the buds with Ortho to see if it would do anything. It seems to have slowed, but not stopped the damage. Whatever it is, it is proceeding to the back of the house and starting on New Dawn and Graham Thomas. It has to be something the flies just based on some of the buds that it reaches that are far removed from the ground or any objects nearby.

Awesome pictures, Kathy! The thistle really is beautiful. That planting for the birds thing is a great idea. I haven't seen it done here. Now, the butterflies will migrate and the tag will be read by someone far away? Stupid question alert***Will this butterfly survive the winter and come back up here to lay eggs? Or is it a goner? (School was a looong time ago and I have an appt soon and cannot research right now - and it will be out of my head by the time I get upstairs to change, lol) Jeanne

How far off the ground are the taller tomatoes that have been eaten? Are they going for tomatoes which have already broken color, or just the first big juicy one they see? I spose one of the disadvantages of mulch is that you can't see tracks.... No missing or damaged leaves, I assume? What wildlife is common in your area? How urban is it? How large is the average lot?