I’ve had several squirrels and NO they do not make good pets. Scribbles was an exception. He had a neurological condition that caused him to have seizures if he got too excited, so he tended to pace himself and never “went wild” like others I’ve had. They’re quite friendly when they’re young, but around 2-3 months of age, they pretty much “go wild” and really need to be re-homed to a wildlife refuge. Scribbles lived three months and then choked to death while having a seizure. Others that I’ve had, I’ve kept until about the same age. And YES, they do smell quite strongly. Their urine is quite potent.