Kari Ysland recently joined CHMVH as Emily Hannigan left to pursue her new career with the Durham Fire Department. Kari grew up in Norway, but moved back to the States to continue her studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. There she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Biology. Kari volunteered at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher for two years before she was hired on as an aquarist technician. She was responsible for several exhibits of reptiles, amphibians and fish during her time there. She also took part in introducing operant conditioning to all the American alligators within the facility. She now enjoys living in a small town setting again and working at CHMVH.

In her spare time, Kari  enjoys any form of art work, wildlife and gardening. Her two dogs, Jack and Viper along with her cats, Matrix, Amazon and Pardus, run her household and are also loving the country life.