| The Tlingit Indians of Southeastern Alaska have for | | | | were reported during the gold digging days. A miner's |
| years bellieved in a creature called the Kushtaka, the | | | | encounter with a Kushtaka was published and goes |
| land otter man. Just like the leprechauns, kushtaka are | | | | this way: A member of a gold prospector's team was |
| shape shifting creatures too. They can take the shape | | | | sent to Thomas Bay to scour the area for gold |
| of a human being as well as the shape of an animal, | | | | prospects. He was confined to his tent for several |
| specifically an otter. Folktales give different accounts | | | | days due to heavy rains but on a clear day, he was |
| of their behavior. Some stories tell that Kushtaka are | | | | able to find gold flecked quartz. As he was taking his |
| cruel mystical creatures. They get great pleasures | | | | bearing, he was approached by creatures that looked |
| from tricking poor sailors to their death by mimicking | | | | like both men and ape. These long haired stinking |
| voices of loved ones who are in distress and asking | | | | creatures were covered with sores. Lucklily, the miner |
| for help. | | | | was able to run to his canoe and survived to tell the |
| Other stories show Kushtaka as a friendly creature | | | | tale. |
| that often help lost individuals. Through illusions, these | | | | Two other miners had the same experience later on |
| creatures would distract individuals with false | | | | and they came back with the same frightening |
| impression of their families or their friends to save | | | | account. One miner was told to have gone mad after |
| them from freezing to death. Often times they would | | | | the horrific event. Several other sightings were |
| transform a lost individual into a fellow Kushtaka so | | | | reported. A farmer who was looking for a dog, found |
| that he will survive the cold. In this case, the Kushtaka | | | | unexplainable tracks instead and a trapper |
| will prove to be a very helpful ally of the humans. | | | | disappeared after that with only the clothes found by |
| However, this is not always the case. Depending on a | | | | the search party. |
| whim, Kushtaka can be a very malevolent creature. | | | | There is a website that describes the Kushtaka and |
| This would cause the Tlingit Indians to speak reticently | | | | numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail, |
| about this creature. Some legends would tell how | | | | this website is called: Unknown Creatures and it may |
| Kushtaka will imitate a crying baby or a screaming | | | | be found at this url: |
| woman asking for help. The voice would lure the victim | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or |
| to a river where it will be cruelly killed and torn to | | | | on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety |
| shreds. In some cases the victim will be turned into | | | | and without modification except for formatting needs |
| another Kushtaka. | | | | or grammar corrections. |
| Actual sightings of these half man half otter creatures | | | | |