Kushtaka
Location of Kushtaka Sightings
Southeastern Alaska
Earliest - Latest Reported Kushtaka Sighting
Since the early 1700's to present
Description of the Kushtaka
They can take the shape of a human being as well as the shape of an animal, specifically an otter
Odors described during or right after
encounters with the Kushtaka
None reported
Sounds - Speech of the Kushtaka
They can speak or make sound that any human can make, they seem to be able to imitate what they hear, like a parrot
Interesting Sighting Details of the Kushtaka
The Tlingit Indians of Southeastern Alaska have for years bellieved in a creature called the Kushtaka, the land otter man. Just like the leprechauns, kushtaka are shape shifting creatures too. They can take the shape of a human being as well as the shape of an animal, specifically an otter. Folktales give different accounts of their behavior. Some stories tell that Kushtaka are cruel mystical creatures. They get great pleasures from tricking poor sailors to their death by mimicking voices of loved ones who are in distress and asking for help.
Other stories show Kushtaka as a friendly creature that often help lost individuals. Through illusions, these creatures would distract individuals with false impression of their families or their friends to save them from freezing to death. Often times they would transform a lost individual into a fellow Kushtaka so that he will survive the cold. In
this case, the Kushtaka will prove to be a very helpful ally of the humans.
However, this is not always the case. Depending on a whim, Kushtaka can be a very malevolent creature. This would cause the Tlingit Indians to speak reticently about this creature. Some legends would tell how Kushtaka will imitate a crying baby or a screaming woman asking for help. The voice would lure the victim to a river where it will be cruelly killed and torn to shreds. In some cases the victim will be turned into another Kushtaka.
Actual sightings of these half man half otter creatures were reported during the gold digging days. A miner’s encounter with a Kushtaka was published and goes this way: A member of a gold prospector’s team was sent to Thomas Bay to scour the area for gold prospects. He was confined to his tent for several days due to heavy rains but on a clear day, he was able to find gold flecked quartz. As he was taking his bearing, he was approached by creatures that looked like both men and ape. These long haired stinking creatures were covered with sores. Lucklily, the miner was able to run to his canoe and survived to tell the tale.
Two other miners had the same experience later on and they came back with the same frightening account. One miner was told to have gone mad after the horrific event. Several other sightings were reported. A farmer who was looking for a dog, found unexplainable tracks instead and a trapper disappeared after that with only the clothes found by the search party.
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