More than a dozen former employees say understaffing at Brynn Marr Hospital contributes to what they describe as a dangerous place for patients and employees. Hospital officials say allegations of violence, sexual assaults, overmedication and lack of mental health therapy are unfounded.

Former employees say short-staffed NC psych hospital rife with violence, abuse

Brynn Marr Hospital

Celebrate the moms in your life on Sunday, May 12 with these Mother's Day deals including flowers, gift card bonus offers, restaurant deals, retail sales and more!

Mother's Day Deals 2024: Flowers, restaurant, retail and gift card bonus offers

Roses at store

All assets associated with the tag: North Carolina aquarium

North Carolina aquarium Coverage

A female stingray named Charlotte is pregnant--even though she hasn't shared her aquarium tank with a male of her species in at least eight years.

POLITICS. >> IT IS FRIDAY OF VALENTINE'S DAY WEEK. SO WHAT BETTER TIME TO TALK ABOUT COUPLES TONIGHT? I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE THAT IS DOMINATING THE HEADLINES WITH THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF LIKES AND SHARES. NO, NO, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT IN TRAVIS KELCE. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER. IT COUPLE THIS WEEK. A STING RAY AND A SHARK OR PERHAPS A STING RAY UNDER SELF. MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS STORY THIS WEEK. A STING RAY NAMED CHARLOTTE AT THE AQUARIUM AND SHARK LAB IN HENDERSONVILLE IS PREGNANT AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW THERE ARE NO MALE STINGRAYS IN HER HABITAT. THE FACILITY BELIEVES THERE ARE 2 POSSIBILITIES HERE TO STAY, WHERE IT COULD BASICALLY BE CLONING HERSELF OR SHE MAY HAVE MATED WITH A SMALL SHARK IN HER HABITAT. I WANT TO WALK THROUGH BOTH POSSIBILITIES BECAUSE BOTH ARE POSSIBLE AND SUPER RARE. SO LET'S START WITH THIS ONE. THE UNLIKELY COUPLE COULD THE FATHER THE SHARK. SHE'S NEVER BEEN AROUND A MALE UNTIL WE PUT THOSE 2 LITTLE. BOYS AND HEAR DIFFERENT SPECIES DO MADE FROM TIME TO TIME THERE KNOWN AS HYBRIDS. ONE EXAMPLE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY COMMON BREEDING. A HORSE AND A DONKEY GIVES US A MEAL. ANOTHER ONE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF A TIGER AND LION BREEDING. THE 2 BIG CATS GIVES US A HYBRID CALLED A LIGER AND HERE IS ONE FROM MARINE WILDLIFE. IT'S EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY RARE. A DOLPHIN AND WHALE KNOWN AS A WALL FUN. ALL 3 OF THESE HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED. SO SO WHY NOT A STING RAY AND A SHARK? THE 2 FISH ARE IN THE SAME FAMILY. THE FACILITY IN HENDERSONVILLE EVEN SAYS THEY FOUND BITE MARKS ON THE FEMALE STING. RAY, WHICH IS A COMMON THING FOR SHARKS TO DO WHEN THEY MATE AN EXPERT AT SEA LIFE AQUARIUM TOLD THE NBC AFFILIATE IN CHARLOTTE THIS PROBABLY IS NOT THE ANSWER. YOU SEE SHARKS AND RAYS MAY BE RELATED, BUT THEY'RE MORE LIKE 3RD OR 4TH COUSINS, 6 OR 7 TIMES REMOVED. >> BACK TO THOMAS TOLD WCNC, QUOTE, IT IS VERY, VERY UNLIKELY STINGRAYS AND SHARKS WHILE THEY ARE RELATED, THEY ARE VERY DISTANTLY RELATED. SO IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD MATE TOGETHER. >> BUT THE AQUARIUM AND SHARK CLUB WHERE THIS HAPPENED IS NOT RULING IT OUT. THEY WROTE IN A FACEBOOK POST, QUOTE, JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS NOT HAPPENED OR HAS NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED, DOESN'T MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE. SCIENCE IS DISCOVERY. THAT BRINGS ME TO OPTION NUMBER 2. IT'S CALLED PARTHENOGENESIS. THE WORD COMES FROM 2 GREEK WORDS, PARSON DOSE, MEANING VERSION AND GENESIS, MEANING CREATION. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT THIS KIND OF THING HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU THINK IN THE WILD. A STUDY RELEASED IN 2021 FOUND CALIFORNIA CONDORS HAVE VIRGIN BIRTH. THEY CAN. THEY CAN HAVE VIRGIN BIRTHS. A SNAKE AT A CONSERVATION CENTER IN ST. LOUIS GAVE BIRTH TWICE EACH TIME WITHOUT A MATE REPRODUCTION CAN ALSO HAPPEN IN SEA STARS CRAYFISH JELLYFISH AND AUNTS. SO COULD HAPPEN IN A STAY. MORE LIKELY POSSIBILITY. THE MATING WITH A SHARK. BUT EITHER WAY, CHARLOTTE STORY IS PRETTY REMARKABLE. WE JUST UNDERESTIMATE THESE POOR LITTLE SIS. IT'S A ONCE IN A. >> WILL. LEWIS TO BLUE MOONS EXPERIENCE AND IT'S LIKE, WOW, THE FACILITY PLANS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS DNA TESTING WILL HAPPEN SOON. AND IN THE MEANTIME, >> CHARLOTTE'S CAREGIVERS ARE LOOKING AFTER HER AND HER PUPS. THIS IS A VIDEO THEY POSTED AFTER TAKING AN ULTRASOUND. >> THEY EXPECT CHARLOTTE TO GIVE BIRTH WITHIN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. >> I KNOW THAT WE'LL FIND OUT SOON. RIGHT? DORSAL FIN ON THAT. HA HA. AND BY THE WAY, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT FORT FISHER. THEY AGREE RAYS AND SHARKS CAN'T BREATHE BECAUSE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY. THEY SAY THAT THE CLONING THEORY, THE PARTHENON GENESIS IS LIKELY THE RIGHT ONE. BUT I DON'T KNOW. FIND OUT. I THINK DON'T

The mystery of North Carolina's pregnant stingray  

The North Carolina Aquarium is hosting a Holiday Silent Disco to dance with the fishes on Dec. 16 from 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Silent disco to be held at North Carolina Aquarium Fort Fisher

North Carolina Aquariums

Nimbus, a 13-year-old sea turtle, had to be euthanized due to a severe stomach disease. He was the favorite animal of many staff and visitors at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Beloved sea turtle Nimbus euthanized due to health decline

Sea turtle named Nimbus

Giant loggerhead sea turtle "Behemoth" was released back into the wild from the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. 

"Behemoth" the loggerhead sea turtle released from NC Aquarium 

Behemoth the sea turtle

The pups have brought statewide attention to Asian small-clawed otters, which are considered a vulnerable species.

Otter family upsizes to new habitat at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Two Asian small-clawed otter pups

Otter pups Gemma, Kai, Ren make public debut at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Gemma, Kai and Ren

The aquarium is letting people vote on five sets of names for the three pups, which were born January 31.

The people have spoken! Names for NC's newest otter pups decided

Otter pups from the NC Aquarium Fort Fisher

Three Asian small-clawed otters pups were born to Leia and Quincy at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher on Tuesday, joining their siblings Stella, Mae and Selene.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher reveals gender of 3 otter pups

NC Aquarium new baby otters

New paint, new doors and a deep cleaning are coming this winter to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

An aquarium at Fort Fisher looks a little different right now. There's a lot of work going on. We have crews all over the aquarium while renovations are underway, there are no visitors in the building for the first time since it opened. The much needed work was timed to perfection. This is a great week for us to close. The public is typically a slow week for us, our slowest week of the year, visitation wise. So we're able to close to the public and bring in contractors to do some major projects. So what changes can you expect the next time you visit? The, the director says some things you may not notice while others will change the look of the building entirely, sterilizing some of the systems. We moved all the animals out, were able to get in there and do some really heavy scrubs and sterilize the systems. But aside from the carpet cleaning, we are having a huge painting project that's taking place within the galleries, replacing a bunch of sets of doorways in the aquarium. So while those doorways may be closed for now, the hard work will keep the aquarium open for years to come.

NC Aquarium closes for renovations

The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher welcomed two new additions. The tiny loggerhead turtles are making a big splash into the hearts of North Carolinians.

NC aquarium welcomes new baby sea turtles

NCAFF sea turtles

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is asking the public for help naming three new otter pups.

NC Aquarium needs help naming trio of otter pups

Three Asian small-clawed otter pups were born over the weekend at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Adorable otter pups born at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Otter pups

Due to the pandemic, the North Carolina Aquarium won't be able to help with the care of cold-stunned sea turtles from other states along the East Coast, as they normally would. (WITN)



mhm frame. We are committed to helping save all the species of sea turtles, and one of the ways that we could do that is by being a resource for our partners up and down the coast. And this year, having to say that we can't assist just makes us feel terrible. But we have to be realistic about what we're looking for in the long term and and setting our sights on next year when we'll be able to assist again.

NC Aquarium won't be able to help cold-stunned sea turtles this year 

Due to the pandemic, the North Carolina Aquarium won't be able to help with the care of cold-stunned sea turtles from other states along the East Coast, as they normally would. (WITN)

From behind-the-scenes experiences to virtual animal cameos, North Carolina Aquariums have a host of online experiences for kid, families and classes.

With virtual animal cameos, behind-the-scenes experiences, NC Aquariums offers online activities

coral aquatics

The reopening comes as North Carolina moves into Phase 2.5 of its reopening plan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other museums across the state also begin welcoming visitors again.

North Carolina's aquariums to reopen Monday to the public

A turtle at the Fort Fisher Aquarium

Aquarium Teen Programs Coordinator Austin shares some tells us about the species of sharks the Aquarium cares for and how we can all protect these animals in the wild. 

Hey, everybody. I'm Austin educator and teen programs coordinator at the North Carolina Aquariums at Fort Fisher. And I'm just out here enjoying some of the wonderful ecosystems that we have here in New Hanover County. Ecosystems require all parts working together in order to function properly in marine environments. That includes sharks that help keep those ecosystems healthy and balanced. There are over 500 species of sharks in the world that all have amazing adaptations that play an important role in their ecosystems. Shark teeth, for example, come in all different shapes and sizes based on the prey that they like to eat. I brought with me a couple of my favorite native shark species so that we can talk about him a little more in depth. This tiny set of teeth right here belongs to the smallest member of the hammerhead shark family. This is the bonnet head shark, which only gets about 3 to 4 feet in length, and they have very, very tiny teeth that help them crush up crustaceans like crabs and lobsters to be a main part of their diet. This set of teeth right here belongs to one of the most common sharks in North Carolina. The sandbar shark these air easily identified by the very large first dorsal fin and also these small triangular teeth that are perfect for the opportunistic lifestyle where they predate on all sorts of animals like bony fish rays and even small molluscs and less but certainly not least, are the teeth of a sand tiger shark sand Tiger sharks are identified by having two dorsal fins that are almost the same size and these long nor Li like teeth. The Steve act like the prongs of a fork to catch large, bony fish like snapper and herring sand. Tiger sharks are facing a lot of challenges in the wild. So here at the aquarium, because we care about our sand tiger sharks, we've been tagging them in the wild, and we're tracking their movements. We think that the coast of North Carolina is an important popping ground for sand tiger sharks, and we're using that information to learn more about the reproductive strategies so we can help them around the world where there are populations that are critically endangered. We also know that sharks are oftentimes caught as unintended targets through unsustainable fishing practices. Now we know you can't help tag wild sand tiger sharks with us, but you can join our team by buying sustainable seafood in the grocery stores and help save our shark species. Just check the labels on the back to make sure you know where that fish was caught and how it was caught. And if you need a little extra help, there's an app for that. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium seafood. Watch up, and that will help you double check to make sure that you were making the best choice for our oceans and our shark species. Thanks for joining me. Everybody Be sure to check out our social media for all our fishy fund. Until then, swim on and we'll see you soon.

Shark fun facts

NCLearn@Home: Shark fun facts

North Carolina's zoo and aquariums are offering up some virtual summer camps to keep kids engaged in the coming months.