Stingray Encounters Spike at Corolla Beach

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Credit ncaquariums.com

Stingray at NC Aquarium

This summer saw a big jump in the number of people who were stung by stingrays off the coast of Corolla on the Outer Banks. Ocean Rescue officials say the usual number of stings is between one and five. But this year, there were 70 to 100. Olivia Burrus is the curator at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. She's says the stingrays may have found a lot of food in the area.

Olivia Burrus: "Its just more of a natural phenomena and, you know, they just fell into the currents and the conditions were just optimal for them and they like to stay in the warmer water, so it could have been a result of temperature. But you truly do not know."
Officials say hot water is the best treatment for the painful stings.