I certainly don't mean to cause offense -- personally, I like squirrels and I love watching the Eastern Grays run around in our oak tree. But, cute as they are from a distance, I wouldn't want to pick one up without heavy gloves and a long-sleeved shirt. They're very prone to bite and not only can they gouge you, but, being mammals, they're host to all kinds of parasites and viruses that are also contagious to us ... from fleas to rabies. This is not a problem we have with snakes, just because the biology is different.

Not to mention that squirrels chew stuff up, though isn't a problem that we have. ^_^