The Kóoshdaa káa or Kushtaka, also known as the “land otter man,” is a mythical creature in the folklore of the Tlingit and Tsimshian indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Alaska. The word “Kushtaka” is derived from the Tlingit language, where “kushtak” means “land otter,” and the creature is often described as a shape-shifting being that can transform between human and otter forms. Kushtakas are believed to inhabit the coastal regions of Alaska, and their stories have been passed down through generations as cautionary tales and explanations for unexplained events.