Near Sutton-Alpine in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Ice Creatures?!
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024
1. Ice Creatures?! Marker
Ice worms really do exist. Not only do these tiny creatures live in Alaska legends, they also live on many Alaska glaciers.
What are they?
Ice worms are segmented annelids, similar to earthworms. Two species are known to exist, both about a half inch long, dark brown and as thin as a thread.
How do ice worms survive?
Relatively little is known about these creatures or how they survive and thrive in temperatures that would put an end to most forms of life.
Lifestyles of the small and famous
Ice worms don't sunbathe.
They avoid sunlight and heat, surfacing only at dusk. It's no wonder their scientific name is Mesenchytraeus solifugus, which means "sun avoiding."
They dance for their dinner. Ice worms sometimes attach their posterior to the ice and wriggle the other end erratically. Why? They're probably collecting food particles from the glacial run-off.
Ice worms have a ball! Actually, sometimes they are a ball. In puddles, 10-20 worms may tangle together in a knot. This is presumed to be mating behavior.
How they got famous
Poet Robert Service immortalized-ice worms with his "The Ballad
this page online
" Their bellies were a bilious blue, their eyes a bulbous red
Their backs were grey and gross were they, and hideous of head.
And when with gusto and a fork the barman speared one out,
It must have gone four inches from its tail-tip to its snout."
Today, you can celebrate these mysterious creatures at the Cordova Ice Worm Festival every February or take an "ice worm safari" at the visitor center near Portage Glacier.
Erected by Alaska State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals.
Location. 61° 47.951′ N, 147° 48.848′ W. Marker is near Sutton-Alpine, Alaska, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It can be reached from Glenn Highway. Marker is at the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area viewing area, south off of the Glenn Highway (Alaska Hwy 1) near Milepost 101. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sutton AK 99674, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, in the
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024
2. Ice Creatures?! Marker
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: A Glacial Pace (here, next to this marker).
Regarding Ice Creatures?!. Marker has limited historical information about the Ice Worm, renowned in a poem.
Also see . . . Robert W. Service's life story from 1912 to 1958 (YouTube). (Submitted on August 27, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
