A lot.
Wolves were everywhere there was prey.
The deer were pervasive over the east and so were the wolves. They were wherever there were adequate deer to support a wolf population.
Recently, I learned that the western mountain lions were once again present in North Eastern states.
It seems single males had migrated across Minnesota, crossing above the Mississippi river and heading east. They found rich hunting with lots of deer. The population has not swelled. It seems the young females prefer to stay put and not venture alone into unknown territory.
Lol.
Wolves were everywhere there was prey.
There were very few in California. Virtually none were seen by Lewis and Clark in Yellowstone. Guess why?
People ate the puppies.
I've read the same thing. Male mountain lions are the only ones documented. No den activity has been discovered yet, so there doesn't appear to be any sustainable population in the northeastern states at present.