An American researcher of mysterious creatures, Lon Strickler, published a story on his website shared by a native Yupik resident from Alaska. In Yupik mythology, there are beings called “Ircenrrat,” described as half-demons capable of shape-shifting. They often appear as small wild people.
“I’ve seen them from afar, but others have seen them up close in detail. It is known that these beings can pass through walls and appear in people’s homes. One acquaintance told me about a small wrinkled woman, dressed in dirty fur clothing, who jumped into his bedroom, walked into the living room, and then disappeared. Another time, a small old man, not taller than 60 centimeters, jumped into a woman’s house and seconds later disappeared through the opposite wall,” this person wrote.
In some tales, the Ircesnrrat are described as malevolent and vengeful beings, while in others, they are compassionate and helpful. Generally, it is believed that they behave toward people as people behave toward them—if treated kindly and respectfully, they will respond the same way.
This individual, an avid hunter, recounted an incident that happened to him personally on May 7, 2008. That day, he went to the tundra on a snowmobile to hunt geese in a marshy area near Pilcher Mountain (Kusilvak area). By the time he reached the area, spoke with another hunter he met there, and searched for a good hunting spot, evening had already fallen.
He set up in a clearing, ready to shoot at the geese, when he noticed a dark object in the distance. The place was flat, with light-greenish marshes, making the dark object appear anomalous. Upon closer inspection, the hunter realized it was a child sitting completely motionless. At first, he thought he was mistaken but then decided to approach.
He found an eight-year-old Yupik boy, who appeared disoriented and frightened. The boy was dressed in a thick hoodie, a thin jacket, and light shoes, all perfectly clean and dry, despite being surrounded by marshland. The hunter thought the boy might have arrived by boat, which capsized, leaving him stranded.
When asked how he got there, the boy replied, “I don’t know.” Concerned, the hunter questioned him further, but the boy seemed to be in shock, responding only in monosyllables. Eventually, the boy said he was alone and asked the hunter to take him home. Along the way, the hunter offered him candy, soda, and some food, but the boy refused everything, which the hunter found strange.
The boy directed him to his grandmother’s village and house, and the hunter delivered him there. When the grandmother heard where her grandson was found, she was astonished, saying that he had been near the house just hours earlier.
The next day, when the boy recovered from the shock, he explained that while walking near the house, he encountered small people who lured him out of the village and took him to their dwelling under a mountain. There, he saw thousands of similar small people trying to communicate with him in English, the Yupik language, and another language he didn’t understand.
The place had many tunnels lit by glowing stones. He also saw a small human girl who was a captive. The boy was not imprisoned but was interrogated for a long time. Later, the little people led him to three tunnels and told him to leave and go home. Choosing one of the tunnels, he found himself on a marshy patch of land.
According to the hunter, the boy was very lucky, as it is believed that these beings do not usually release children but keep them as slaves.
