Location: The Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area (HMA) extends north from Imperial Dam and to the west of the Colorado River to Walter Camp, Calif. The HMA is primarily between U.S. Highway 95 and the Colorado River, and Interstates 8 and 10. The southern boundary of the HMA is about 20 miles north of Yuma, Arizona.

Size: The HMA comprises nearly 1 million acres in the lower Sonoran Desert.

Habitat: In Arizona, the Cibola-Trigo HMA supports both wild burros and horses. In southeastern California, only burros roam between the river and the Chocolate/Mules and Picacho HMAs.

Winters in the HMA are typically mild, but summers can be dangerous, with temperatures exceeding   125 degrees. Wild burros share this habitat with desert bighorn sheep and desert mule deer. Other animals living in the HMA are desert tortoises, rattlesnakes, and a variety of birds and lizards.

History: Wild burros were likely introduced into this area in the mid-1800s. As mining booms went bust and alternate transportation became available, the wild burros were left to fend for themselves.

Wild horses have a more recent history. These animals probably escaped or were released from ranches when the river was channeled in the 1940s. There are several Appaloosa studs thriving in the Arizona portion of the HMA, contributing to the color diversity of the herd.  In fact, this line may be a continuation from the first-ever Appaloosa stud in the area.