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Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. All rights reserved. The tales of the Rougarou have many variations, but it is mostly described as being a hulking beast, up to 10 feet tall, with the hair covered body of a human and the head of a wolf or in some cases a . I suppose anything is possible, and while the Bigfoot sighting phenomena originated in the Pacific Northwest, it seems more than plausible that such a creature could exist here. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. The full moon hangs high over the Louisiana swampland. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. The seminary student continued to stand still to observe further when the creature started to pace back in fourth just out of sight, beyond the tree line, all why still producing the strange whimpers. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Too afraid to move, he watched as a figure about 8 feet tall and hairy from head to toe passed slowly below him, eventually disappearing further into the woods. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. See. The man dropped his gun and ran. we have similar creatures in northeastern NY along with a few other cryptids like pig men and Bigfoot but i also have seen a panther like cat with black bat like wings by the tree line in a small town along lake Champlain. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. Definitely a loup-garou. The only one I say can I truly believe is the sighting told to me by Mr. Nameless and that is only because I have known him my entire life and trust him. Despite the fact that it was originally a legend, there are still claimed sightings of the Rougarou to this day, though it has died off a bit in the past decade. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Whether the Rougarou is truly a cryptid stalking the streets at night just waiting to pass its curse on to the next unfortunate soul, or whether it is merely a tool used to scare Catholics into keeping Lent, it is clear that the Rougarou has left its mark on Southern Louisiana. . Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Your email address will not be published. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. Required fields are marked *. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! In the legend, this beast is often described as having the body of a man and the head of a wolf or a dog and prowls Louisiana swamps looking for misbehaving children. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. The brave friend continued on to the car, opened the door and started to feel around in the dark for the purse in the passenger seat. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. People who didnt have a lot of physical or social power in society found a way to survive through being clever., Even Louisianas infamous and very real alligators have undergone a rebranding. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. The Rougarou: Southern Louisiana The legends of the rougarou, or loup-garou, have been passed down from generation to generation as long as Louisiana has been inhabited by modern man. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. There are also stories of an enormous monster that also shares the bayou with the Rougarou and that is the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisiana's "bigfoot of the swamp." Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human . And speaking of scaring Catholics, one French Catholic myth claims that in order for someone to turn into a Rougarou, they must break Lent seven years in a row. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. Proud foodie. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The human animal sobbing sounds were also accompanied by the snapping of branches and the crackling of leaves that gave the impression of something large moving through the woods. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. Thanks for sharing it with us! I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? 9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails Darkness Prevails 631K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K 136K views 3 years ago It's like a real life werewolf, but worse. Is there a Louisiana werewolf? He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! Crafty. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). The Rougarou myth is even so prevalent that the term "rougarouing" or similar terms have become used to describe a person who stays up late or is active at night. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. The Husband also described the creature as being dark in color and large. Full report can be found on http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. [12] This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. Such monster makeovers are common. Legends of the Rougarou. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Im not making this up. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. Deep within the swamps of south Louisiana, legend has it, there lives the Rougarou a legendary werewolf sort creature with sharp claws and glowing eyes. What I saw scared the life out of me. Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. Louisiana native. This is why I always read terms and conditions. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. The rougarou is closely related to the European version of the werewolf but has a few very distinct differences from the wolfmen seen in movies and on television. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. A story in The Nicholls Worth, a local college paper, titled "Rougarou Remains Strong Figure in Cajun Folklore," recounts a story from a woman about an experience in her youth. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. Enjoy these allegedly. I hunt all over america and even in Africa a couple times ive run across crap that has made me avoid entire states and run across other things that i tried to stalk and kill one of these things i tried to kill is a loup garou i lived in deep louisiana until i was 11 i know about these things your gonna need some back story for this i subscribe to the idea that they are cursed humans and will have the curse till they die like wherewolves and the loup garou may even be a wherewolf because the only time ive ever found a claim of one that i couldnt easily blow off the description was the same as a where wolf like a humanoid grizzly bear on two legs with lots of steroids that aside i was doing some hunting one night for hog and saw a huge animal walk out stood 6 or 7 feet tall on two legs couldnt make out fine details due to light but i took a shot at it after i saw enough to realize it wasnt human i shot it in the head with a 45-70 those of you who dont get that its a rifle capable of taking large game like an elephant with one shot very strong round and for those of you who are gun people ill give some specs it was a 500 grain soft lead bullet hot loaded on 72 grains of powder (that doesnt sound like much but i shoot black powder in it not smokeless and no its not a muzzle loader it shoots brass cased bullets like a normal gun) anyway i hit it in the head and it got really pissed of and started to charge from about 200 yards away i shot it again in the chest and it ran off i spent the night tracking it mind you this all happemed at about 10 i only quit when i lost blood trail and foot print trail right around daylight i went home and that night there was a story of a man whos body had been found with two large holes that resembled bullet holes but it was ruled out because there was no trace of any lead or powder and he was drained of all his blood that chalked it up to a satanic ritual now to me it sounds like i killed a loup garou but hey maybe its still out there and just really pissed off. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. 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Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. A 9ft tall man with a black beard and what appeared to be a cloak of brown fur hanging from his neck by a rope. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. The Loupe Garou has to be based on stories told by parents wanting there children to behave and make there beds clean the dishes ect ect. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Honey Island Swamp Monster The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. He let his mind wander. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. Whatever he saw had Mr. Nameless so unsettled that even from the safety of his truck was hesitant to pass where the creature had crossed. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. Offer subject to change without notice. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. The court would ask the public if they believed the accused to be a loup-garou, and usually the public agreed (mainly for fear that theyd be outed as a witch or a loup-garou themselves). The next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. Variations also associate it with animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens, due to the fact that wolves are not often seen in the area. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. Its too late to turn back! He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. March 18th 2022 was the full moon or the Worm Moon and as I was driving down i49 something crossed the road it was almost like a creature I seen in Scooby-Doo doo it ran so fast across the highway on 2 feet and was so tall. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. Your email address will not be published. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Your email address will not be published. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. Will Seals' home was set afire and he was shot down while trying to escape the flames. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. The jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human being. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. Apparently, when a person changes into a Rougarou they forget how to count past 12 (probably since they only worry about midnight and the moon at this point). Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. Its true! 2023 Atlas Obscura. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. According to some other accounts, the process of transferring the curse involves the willingly human drawing the blood of the Rougarou. In an interview conducted by Carter Buschardt, the officer stated that he went back to look at the end of shift report he filed the night of the encounter, but was unable to find the report. The name changed to rougarou in Cajun Louisiana because l and r are linguistically liquid consonants and they change places a lot, says Barry Jean Ancelet, a Cajun folklorist and professor emeritus with the University of Lafayette. Frequently referred to as beast in the story, the part-man, part-animal with piercing yellow eyes has appeared in several anecdotes by self-styled witnesses since the 1960s. The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide. Folklore will have us believe that a Rougarou has the opportunity to change back to a human after 101 days, but only after finding another human who is willing to have the curse transferred to them. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. The Same LObservateur article that mentioned the Laplace mans sighting near Ruddock in 1983, also makes mention of another Laplace man that had a strange encounter on top of the levee near Bayou Steel. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. After Ford's death, a grainy film reel was found in his attic that shows a large and hairy figure shuffling upright between the trees. The history of the Rougarou is centuries-old and has many different origins, but the earliest mention of the infamous, mythical Louisiana werewolf comes from medieval France. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. For decades, the equivalent of one football field of coastline was lost per hour; while the rate has slowed, the regions long-term prognosis remains grim. At the time of the encounter the officer had no working knowledge of Bigfoot or sasquatch, but having a degree in anthropology left no doubt in the officers mind what he saw was most defiantly not a large, naked, human being. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. What is the Rougarou? Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. I was thinking the same. Perhaps this giant was not a fan of small talk, and from the direction of travel I suspect the giant was heading home to Chackbay. A long-simmering proposal to dam the Pearl River near Jackson, Miss., has prompted concerns in southeast Louisina and southwest Mississippi about how such a project would impact the lower Pearl River. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Usually theyd find someone in the woods or someone in the village who was just acting strange.. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). And as the stomping grounds for the rougarou have disappeared, so have tales about the beastuntil Foret made it his mission to save both.