Urayuli, or "Hairy Men", are a mythical race of creatures that live in the woodland areas of southwestern Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

. Stories of the Urayuli describe them as standing 10 feet tall with long shaggy fur and luminescent eyes. They are said to emit a high pitch cry, resembling that of a loon

Loon

The loons or divers are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia...

. Their long, lanky arms have been described as reaching down to their ankles.

Rumored to live in the forests near the area of Lake Iliamna

Iliamna Lake

Iliamna Lake or Lake Iliamna is a lake in South-West Alaska, at North end of Alaska Peninsula, between Kvichak Bay and Cook Inlet, West of Seldovia, Alaska Bristol Bay Low....

, the Urayuli are said to be peaceful creatures, unlike the Kushtaka

Kushtaka

Kushtaka are mythical creatures found in the stories of the Tlingit and Tsimshian Indians of Southeastern Alaska. Loosely translated, kushtaka means, "land otter man"....

of Southeastern Alaska.

It is said the Urayuli are transformed children who become lost in the woods at night. It is possible that this tale was started to keep children indoors at night.