Would you like a pet burro? If you've got the space, you can get one — and help alleviate Arizona's wild burro problem in the process.

As KJZZ reported last week, the federal Bureau of Land Management is attempting to raise awareness of its burro adoption program as the state's population of wild burros continues to grow. There are about 4,800 of the animals in Arizona, and the BLM says that's 3,000 more than the environment can support.

Perhaps nowhere is the burro situation more apparent than in Oatman, along Historic Route 66 in Northwestern Arizona. There, dozens of burros roam the streets, stopping traffic as they seek handouts from tourists. They cause traffic accidents in the area every year, a Mohave County official told KJZZ.

A Mesa man, Tom Taylor, adopted a burro he named Hualapai through the program in 1989. They've been together ever since, and Taylor told KJZZ he and Hualapai go hiking every day. "We've kind of built up almost a pet-like relationship," he said.

State and federal officials agree the adoption program isn't enough to curb the burros' population growth, and a management plan is expected to be released soon. In the meantime, if you've got the space and a soft spot for these animals, why not consider adopting? Visit the BLM's Adoption Program page for more information.