Red squirrels used to be a common sight in British forests and countryside. Then, in the 1870s, the gray squirrel was introduced from North America because rich people thought the squirrels looked fashionable in the grounds of their large homes. Today, only about 140,000 red squirrels remain, mostly in Scotland. In contrast, gray squirrels are now extremely common and seen as major pests due to the damage they cause to plants and houses. While red squirrels are protected, gray squirrels can be legally trapped and destroyed.