She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. Official Post from Deborah Hatswell BBR Being Believed Research & Investigation HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. Glad the information was here. The anonyms Laplace man said he was out near Ruddock with a friend, they were clearing land with a bulldozer when they came across footprints in the mud that were at least 19 inches in length. I was thinking the same. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). However, many people also believe it's just a dog. Where can you find a Rougarou? I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Coming across this story made me reach out to Mr. Nameless to see if he would entertain the idea answering some questions about the experience he had in the early 90s. The two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. Do you have a favorite? Your email address will not be published. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. 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. 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. He was only about 100 yards away when it crossed so a person would not of had time to get far enough to disappear into the swamp. In France during the 16th century, they used to blame various crimes that were committed throughout the villages on the Loup-Garou. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. He flagged me down to speak with me. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. However, it is unlikely you will find any real pictures of a Rougarou, if there are any, as most claims of sighting have turned out to be a hoax. 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. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. DATE. Rougarou announce 2023 TCL schedule. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. Fair Use Notice: I want more! All rights reserved. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. 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. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. 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 boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. The basic tale of Rougarou is one of a half man, half wolf that prowls the Louisiana swamps, looking for Catholics that have broken Lent or broken Catholic rules in other ways. Theres an annual Rougarou Festival in Houma every year, and the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has a Rougarou exhibit, which includes a statue of the creature in all its swampy glory. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. Some months prior to this her entire family told her they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, followed by a gurgling noise coming from the woods. Louisiana native. The seminary student stood still, they got the impression that the source of the noise was moving along a path in the woods and getting closer. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. A version from the 16th century paints it as being seen as something similar to a genetic disorder, rather than the curse most other versions of the myth portray the Rougarou as being. 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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. Foret recalls hearing of one legendary rougarou run-in, when a young boy out for a stroll, armed with only his oyster knife, encountered the creature. Thank you! According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Thank you! The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. 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. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. 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). I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. "Who. You understand that all Content posted on, transmitted through, or linked from the Phantoms and Monsters Site, are the sole responsibility of the person from whom such Content originated. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. Screaming 'Forest Ghoul' Seen in Montana Mountains. Love Louisiana? Wed 05/31/23. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. I remember he kept repeating something to the effect of look, Im not sure what I saw. At that time the only reference I had to Bigfoot was a few TV shows and a book I checked out a few times from my schools library. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. About four weeks ago, PB and his 5-year-old daughter were walking along their long dirt driveway that leads to their home. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Pale Gray Humanoid Haunts Teens in Old Country Cem Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. The trickster figure really went from being the bad guy, the one to watch out for, to being a hero, says Rabalais, adding that the shift reflected the reality of the people who told and retold the stories. Witches?Witch doctors! The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. The basic tale of Rougarou is one of a half man, half wolf that prowls the Louisiana swamps, looking for Catholics that have broken Lent or broken Catholic rules in other ways. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. Once the rougarou settled into southern Louisianas swampy shadows, it took on some aspects of local Native American cryptids, such as a legendary Choctaw shapeshifting owl-witch. 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Back in the thick, fog-covered swamplands is where youll find the true beauty of Louisiana and perhaps even a monster or twoincluding the legendary beast called the Rougarou. It was a fall evening and this student was walking on a road in back of the property that borders cow pastures and piney woods. The legend of the rougarou plays a prominent role in the History Channel television series Cryptid: The Swamp Beast. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou? This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. We love to hear your feedback. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Louisiana monsters have been the subject of controversy for years. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. It is most often described as having a human body with the head of a wolf or dog, with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. Did a child disappear from the village without a trace? A story in The Daily Comet titled "Tales of The Rougarou Still Haunt Local Memories" states, "In the past, rumors about strange or eccentric neighbors would float through small bayou communities, labeling various people as the dreaded Rougarou." Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. He and his partner were a part of a unit in Jefferson Parish that were first responders to criminal calls, making this a most credible report. June 7, 2022 . The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. You are responsible for all Content that you post, email or otherwise make available via the Phantoms and Monsters Site. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. 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. Or else you may find yourself prey to the legendary Rougarou. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, 6 Exercises You Can Do with a Resistance Band, 4 Southern Traditions You Should Know About. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Foret is now director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit that educates students, in the classroom and on field trips, about the challenges of sea level rise, climate change, and living in a coastal communityone still recovering from 2021s Hurricane Ida. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. A close friend of the family who was on . Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. When this is done on the 101st after the curse was initially placed, the former Rougarou is freed from the curse and allowed to take human form permanently. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. Love Louisiana? They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. 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. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. In another variation of the story, the half man half wolf monster targets and kills Catholics that have failed to follow the rules of Lent. Dec. 20, 2016 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has confirmed photographic evidence of a cougar sighting in northeast Louisiana on Nov. 23.An LDWF biologist conducted a site investigation that confirmed the authenticity of a trail camera picture submitted to the department. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. No one agrees what it looks like because they dont really have wolves in this part of our country, says Nathan J. Rabalais, author of Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. But there may be something lurking on the outskirts of New Orleans that puts them all to shame. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. Logic would dictate that any such creature living in southeast Louisiana would appear thinner in both frame and hair because of the climate and wet conditions. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. Trey Iles Baton Rouge. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. Turns out voodoo is still in. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. Often the story of the Rougarou has been used to instill fear in the hearts of Cajun children as a way to command obedience. The Louisiana werewolf is the rougarou of the bayoua very similar-looking creature. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 22. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Driving west on Airline Hwy. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. Over the last century, hurricanes, sea level rise, and problematic development projects, such as damming the Mississippi River, have caused Louisiana to lose more than 2,000 square miles of land. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. The officers came around the corner of the house and saw a creature standing up, pressed against the side of the house, trying to maintain cover. Buy Tickets . The Rougarou turned back into a man, telling the boy that he had sold his soul to the devil and ended up a beast. The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster 1,356 views Premiered Oct 31, 2020 58 Dislike Share Save The Traveling Gilberts 876 subscribers Subscribe The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana. 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. Well written and well documented. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. In this version of the tale, a large white dog followed a young boy home, annoying him throughout the walk. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. So normally I dont believe it till I see it but in this case I saw it before I even heard about it and now I totally believe it. Our parents would say things like, you better behave or the rougarou is gonna get you, says Jonathan Foret, a native of Terrebonne Parish, a patchwork of bayou and lowlands on the Gulf shore. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. As the dying man takes his last breath, he has to remind his killer not to mention the incident to anyone--or else they will end up with the same fate, turned into the Rougarou. Required fields are marked *. The Legend of the Louisiana Swamp Werewolf Known as the Rougarou, or sometimes as the Loup-Garou This Legend is said that the creature has prowled for hundreds of years in the swamps Show more. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. An unknown creature has been mutilating and killing animals and perhaps humans in southern Louisiana; some locals attribute the attacks to a rougarou. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. For the sake of anonymity this family friend will remain nameless, so I will refer to him as Mr. Nameless. This is why I always read terms and conditions. Had me captured. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. 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. After that point, her spell was lifted. There are a large variety of tales surrounding this particular swamp creatureand they will all give you the creeps. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. Bizarre Clothed Humanoid Encountered in Louisiana Black Eyed Seniors: 3 Different Creepy Accounts. The Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. For Foret and many other Cajun residents in the area, the real possibility that climate change will eventually force them from their homes is particularly upsetting. Mr. Nameless is still is not 100% sure what he saw that evening down Peavine Road, but from time to time he still thinks, and wonders what that large dark figure that crossed his path could be. The earliest report takes place in the swampy forest of Back Vacherie in 1891.An excerpt from Along The River Road, Past and Present on LouisianasHistoric Byway by Mary Ann Sternberg. I dont remember verbatim what he told me that day but the gist of that conversation has stuck in my psyche with clarity for nearly 30 years. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Then, they would round up village folks that they assumed were Loup-Garous, and hold public trials for them. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. The officer that submitted this report has over 40 years in military and law enforcement, a degree in Anthropology, and self educated in Darwinism, math and quantum physics. Thats no werewolf, though. Belief in the monster was so strong that many civilians were accused . The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. And as the stomping grounds for the rougarou have disappeared, so have tales about the beastuntil Foret made it his mission to save both.