Impossible to prove a negative. The burdan of proof is on those claiming there is a viable WILD population here in the NE. Even better, how about a shred of proof that any state game department has released them - as suggested by the original poster.
Just asking for proof from the 1000's of alleged sightings in the east.
Apparently the ML's in the east are like vampires - they can be seen, but their picture
cannot be taken and they leave no physical (scat, hair, tracks, etc) evidence of any kind.