Alaska has some absolutely incredible animals, but is there a more adorable animal than an otter? They’re like charming little stuffed animals floating along in the river and giving hugs to each other. You probably can’t imagine that sea otters could ever be connected with a creepy legend, but the Tlingit people have a legend about the playful creatures that will send chills down your spine. Enter the Alaska legend of the Kushtaka.

It's hard to find a more charming, adorable animal than the sea otter, and quite a few otters call Alaska home. Though they now live in relatively peaceful harmony, it wasn't always that way for these beloved local creatures.
Dave Bezair/flickr
Alaska's sea otter population was completely decimated during the 19th century due to the fur trade, but it was reintroduced in the 1960s. Today, the state has a population of around 26,000 of these playful creatures.
Otters are a mammal generally native to the North Pacific Ocean. They're small on the scale of marine mammals but make up for it in adorable habits, like hugging. They are generally playful in nature, similar to dogs, which makes them very appealing to humans. In the United States you can also find sea otters in Washington, Oregon, and California. Our neighbors in Mexico also have a population.
Arthur Morris / Corbis Documentary Collection via Getty Images
Unfortunately despite the efforts to repopulate the sea otter population, including bans on hunting them, the animals are still considered endangered.
While we might think these animals are the sweetest things on the planet, the Tlingit people have a legend about them that will keep you up at night. Sometimes terrifying things come in cute, cuddly packages.
Author Unknown CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia
The coastal Tlingit people live in Alaska and Canada, and have a known history going back at least 10,000 years. These folks have been around. And they know a thing or two about the plant and animal life in this territory.

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The Tlingit believe that some otters are actually shape-shifters that look like men. These creatures have an evil purpose - to trap their victims souls and prevent them from reincarnating. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a cute face has been used to ensnare victims.
James Crippen - Own work, CC BY 2.5/Wikimedia
These shape-shifting otters are called "Kushtaka" or "Kooshdakhaa." The legend goes like this:

As you're walking through your village, or hunting in woods or fishing in the sea, a man or group of men approach you. These men look just like kinsmen, and you don't have a clue that they're really the Kushtaka. In some cases, these malevolent creatures appear when you're lost or injured, and claim that they intend to rescue you. However, they lead you deeper into the wilderness and either tear you into pieces, or turn you into a Kushtaka, which prevents your soul from being able to reincarnate. Pretty terrifying. You definitely don't want to come across a Kushtaka in Alaska at night. We can see where some trust issues might develop from this legend.
Groups of Kushtaka are especially dangerous. They might lure you toward them by screaming or making noises that sound like women or children in distress. But once they see you coming, you'll never escape. This could be an ad for the buddy system. Travel with someone else and you're less likely to need the help of a group of strange and eventually sinister men.
Mike's Birds/flickr
The very cuteness of otters is what makes the Alaska Kushtaka so dangerous, according to the Tlingit people. Because we're so drawn to their playful nature, it's easy to miss the fact that these shape-shifters really want to consume our souls and condemn us to spend eternity wandering the frozen tundra.
Luckily, there is one safeguard against a Kushtaka capture. Alaska's second-cutest animal is one that's plentiful around the region - dogs! Man's best friend saves us again, this time from evil spirits and an eternity without afterlife.
Timothy Wildey/flickr
The Kushtaka are supposedly terrified of dogs. Luckily, Alaska has plenty of furry, fearsome sled dogs to keep its villages safe from harm. It's said that fire might be another effective way to keep the shape-shifting otters away.

Alaskan mothers are fond of this legend, and tell it to their children to keep them from wandering too far from home. Have you ever heard of this spine-tingling tale?

What do you think – is the Alaska kushtaka real? Did your parents ever use spine chilling legends to keep you from wandering too far from home and safety? Here are seven more creepy Alaska legends that might have you looking over your shoulder.

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More to Explore

Animals In Alaska

CC | January 05, 2023

What other animals can I find in Alaska?

Don’t worry; there are many more animals than sea otters in the state, so you don’t just have to dwell on the Alaska kushtaka. Here are some more animals you might encounter.

  • Brown Bear
  • Wolf
  • American Black Bear
  • Arctic Fox
  • Dall Sheep
  • Musk Ox
  • Reindeer
  • Polar Bear
  • Bald Eagle

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Kushtaka Mountain, Alaska, USA