A new federal order directing wildlife officials to review protections for gray wolves and Mexican wolves is drawing attention to the California Wolf Center in Julian, according to East County Magazine.

The Sept. 4 order gives the U.S. Secretary of the Interior 90 days to determine whether gray wolves and Mexican wolves have met recovery benchmarks under the Endangered Species Act. East County Magazine reported that the order does not immediately change the wolves' legal status, and any federal listing change would require a formal process.

The California Wolf Center said in a Sept. 5 statement that the Mexican wolf has made significant recovery progress but has not met all of the criteria in the recovery plan, including genetic representation needed for long-term viability. The center also noted that gray wolves remain protected under both federal and California endangered species law.

The Julian organization has been part of the federal Mexican wolf breeding and release program since 1995. East County Magazine reported that the center currently houses Mexican wolves and has used pup fostering, a technique that places captive-born pups into wild dens, as part of the recovery effort.

For Santee and East County readers, the story is local because one of the region's best-known conservation organizations is directly involved in the recovery program now under federal review. The center is also pursuing its Guardians of the Wild expansion near state Route 79 in Julian, with a focus on education, coexistence and conservation work. Source: East County Magazine.