Tradition: American Mythology
Alternative Names: Wi’-lû-ghó-yûk, Sea Shrew
Category: Rat
The Myth
The Uiluruyak is a small, mouse-like creature associated with the sea ice of Alaska in Yupik folklore. Although the name has been identified with the meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius), the explorer Edward William Nelson described it as a sea shrew. Hunters are said to encounter it on the frozen sea.
When the Uiluruyak sees a person, it darts forward with incredible speed, pierces the sole of their boot, and crawls beneath their clothes. If the person remains completely motionless, the creature eventually leaves through the same hole it entered. Those who endure the encounter without moving are said to become successful hunters.
However, even the slightest movement can prove fatal. The Uiluruyak is believed to burrow into the victim’s flesh, pierce their heart, and kill them. For this reason, hunters are warned to remain perfectly still if they encounter a mouse on the sea ice, in case it is the dangerous Uiluruyak.
Sources
“Uiluruyak.” A Book of Creatures, October 19, 2020. https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/10/19/uiluruyak/