Severe facial injuries to infants due to unprovoked attacks by pet ferrets.

Three infants were attacked by pet ferrets and sustained severe facial injuries. Two of the children had their ears bitten off and required reconstructive surgery. The attacks were unprovoked. Two of the children were asleep in their cribs when they were bitten. Although ferrets are increasingly popular pets, we believe that they are not suitable pets for families with small children. Physicians should be aware that ferrets may unpredictably injure infants and that no effective rabies vaccine for ferrets is yet available.