We can be the problem or the solution. Often we are the problem.

Rarely do we humans consider the impact our actions will have on other creatures, until it is too late. Some folks, I guess, don’t care, but most people are just oblivious.

I have seen far too many examples of thoughtless behavior that resulted in the injury or death of helpless wildlife.

A few weeks ago, I experienced horror and a miracle in my backyard within a five-minute span. While I was watering the tall trumpet vine growing on a trellis next to a wall of the neighboring apartment building, I spotted fur among the dense leaves. Closer examination revealed a flattened young squirrel that somehow got itself wedged and trapped between the wooden trellis and the wall. The animal was not moving, and I presumed it had met a slow, gruesome death. I felt sick. We pulled the trellis forward, expecting the little body to fall to the ground. Instead, its head twitched and when the trellis moved, the squirrel scrambled up the vine and scampered away. Apparently, the squirrel had not been stuck very long and did not seem dehydrated or debilitated from the hot sun. Miraculously, I came there at the right time. Immediately, we attached a wooden block to the back of the trellis, creating a space between it and the wall, which should prevent any animal from getting wedged in there again.

I know friends and neighbors who have had birds or other animals fall down chimneys or downspouts and become trapped and die. Those problems are easily resolved with chimney caps and mesh baskets placed where the gutters and downspouts meet. I made sure my home has both.

Those plastic holders for six-packs of soda or beer cans can be detrimental to wildlife. Years ago, I found a squirrel stuck in one, and to complicate the situation, the animal had tried futilely to escape through my chain link fence, thus creating a double trap.

I had to cut both the fence and the plastic holder to release the terrified creature.

Many animals are harmed by items generally considered innocuous by humans. Birds have swallowed deflated balloons found on the ground and have choked to death.

Whenever I am walking near a stream and see fishing line carelessly left on the ground, I remove it and put it in a trash can.

People who let their pet cats roam outdoors greatly add to the demise of wildlife. These pets are domestic animals and are not part of the natural environment that native wildlife evolved with. Even well-fed pet cats will hunt birds and other small wild critters because that is an inbred trait.

Such simple measures - disposing of balloons and fishing line and other litter responsibly or keeping pet cats indoors - take little effort on our part but go a long way toward keeping wild critters safe.

Rampant development is responsible for destroying the habitat and lives of numerous wild animals. Thoughtful planning and taking into consideration that we humans are not the only inhabitants who need homes on this earth, is necessary to ensure we won’t have bears, skunks and raccoons in our backyards, which were formerly the animals’ domains.

I remember driving on a narrow macadam road that was built in a forested area and seeing a lumbering turtle heading for the other side. Knowing he surely would be run over before reaching his destination, I stopped my car and attempted to move him. He quickly identified himself as an aggressive snapping turtle who did not want to be handled. To save my fingers and his life, I pulled an umbrella from my car and let him grab onto it for the trek across the road. The turtle rewarded my kindness by keeping the umbrella. Perhaps it gives him status among his peers during a heavy rainstorm.

As we know, not all good deeds are met with gratitude - whether from fellow humans or animals - but doing good by helping the helpless feels good, and that is enough thanks for me.