They're common when you're growing veggies in the nightshade family. They'll also create a ton of damage in a very short time. Yes. They're very difficult to see. Especially when your plants are fully grown. That's why I start spraying BT about a month after I put my transplants out. Every 2-3 weeks, whether i see damage or not. It brings me great peace of mind to not have to worry to walk out one day and see my tomatoes or peppers ravaged. Where did it come from? hawk moth or sphinx moth, depending on which variety. Apparently they're out at night, adults and caterpillars. That's another thing about "seeing" them. I can barely see one in full daylight because they blend in so well. The only time I've ever found them is by accident -- never when I was actively searching. Another note -- if the BT doesn't get all of them, it's because they're a bit older and larger. In that case, try spinosad, more effective at the larger ones. But Spinosad will harm beneficials, like bees. So, wait until dusk to spray it. Good luck. Kevin

We had 13.7 inches here in Racine. I don't mind the shoveling as much as figuring out where to put the stuff! And we are supposed to get some more snow starting tonight, 3 to 5 inches, not bad. But I am running out of places to deposit it. I live on a corner lot and there isn't much of a lawn in front of the house. Just about 3 feet of grass between the sidewalk and the bushes around the foundation. The strip between the street and the sidewalk is pretty high plus with this freezing cold it is hard so the snow that I try to put up there will most likely just slide off. I might have to put the snow in a toboggan and move it around the corner and put it on my side lawn which has a little bit of room. The worst thing of all is that my street is usually plowed after I finish shoveling and that $%^* plow always dumps a mess in the end of my driveway! They swerve around my neighbor's car (who parks in the street) and when they come back over to the side of the road they always push a bunch of snow into my driveway before they straighten out. I asked my neighbor to park on the other side of my driveway but he must have forgot. So I saw him the other day parking his car and explained again and he said he would do it the next time it snowed. I guess I'll have to hope he remembers tonight. Wish me luck. I have an red Amaryllis blooming right now and it is very inspiring to see that in front of the window before my gaze travels past it and sees all of that white snow everywhere. Don't you wish you were like those bears and other animals who hibernate through winter? I know I wish I could just sleep through it all! Kim

akchicago, thanks - you're right. I let them meet today. First with the new kitten in a crate. I let the older cat smell him. She hissed and the kitten hissed. Then the older cat laid down and didnt look threatening at all. So, I opened the crate door and the kitten came out. The older cat ran under the table and got into a chair and stayed there. The kitten explored the house a little, ever so carefully, ........ The kitten and the dog, I think they're gonna be good friends after all! I kept the dog on the leash until I was sure he wouldn't rush at the kitten, then I took te leash off and he acted like the perfect gentleman.... After a bit, the kitten went back into the bedroom and has been under the bed the whole afternoon. I think we'll all be just fine!! Thanks so much for all the suggestions and input here.

Have you determined how the creature is getting into the attic? Unless it has a food supply inside it has to go out. If you can block the access point you can keep it out! I had squirrels in my attic. They made a huge mess of the insulation, tearing it up and nesting in it. I had a wildlife trapping service guy come out and set traps. He blocked off the holes the squirrels had made under the awning, then he put a one way trap in a drainpipe they were using as an exit. He also put traps on the roof. One day the "crazy leader" of the rouge group of squirrels got caught in one of the roof traps. We watch his shake the cage with his little squirrel paws with such force he actually bent the cage! He was removed and released somewhere far from my house! This was several years ago, and although I have squirrels in my yard none have entered my attic. In another attic invasion, my mother had an opossum in her attic. We actually stood watch until he left the attic and then blocked his entry point! I would not recommend exploring your attic with this unknown creature in residence. Best to call a pro or thwart its squatter's status w/o any personal contact! Elizabeth