Closer than most think. We ran into some down by bethal and the nile last year. We cut some track and heard them one night before elk season. We asked the game guys about it and they stated there was no "breeding populations" in the area. We asked how many were there and just got the same line.......No breading populations.
I guess they were just passing through but what a place to lay down some roots. Something tells me they are there to stay. With seattle controlling the state we will see huge tracks of land set aside as recovery zones soon enough and no management of them.