If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? 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. What he told me next has stuck in my memory, and was the spark that lit the flame regarding personal interest I took in all things weird, and strange. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. This a great article!! Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. We cant make this stuff up. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! The French Catholics claimed that you would be turned into a loup-garou if you did not follow the rules of Lent for seven consecutive years. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. Before we get too far into an explanation let's first say it correctly, the proper pronunciation is, "Roo-Ga-Roo.". What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Generations of children have heard the scary. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. If you'vegot a questionabout something Louisiana-centric, ask us. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? Once turned around, the cousin looked back and observed the creature now walking in the middle of the road and at a quicker pace toward the children. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. In the official report the officer filed he was honest, but kept the details to a minimum, it was a very tall dark figure, with no description of clothing. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. She described it also as being tall and hairy and went on to further say that it was almost so white it was glowing. She also described the creature to be staring in her direction. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). In the late summer of the early 90's (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. The same 12 year old child claims that about a month after, they were out with the same cousin in the woods that bordered their neighborhood, when they spotted a bush along the train track shake. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Witches?Witch doctors! That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? A woman named Barbara Mullins discovered a supposedly unidentifiable carcass on the side of the road in 1996. I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. If you decide to attend the festival or find yourself around the swamps, make sure to remember the tricks and tactics we covered in this article. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. 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). According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. Address: Rougarou Fest, 7910 W Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364, USA. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Will Seals' home was set afire and he was shot down while trying to escape the flames. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. 22. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Your email address will not be published. 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. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover One man hopes to turn the wolfish cryptid into a mascot for saving the state's imperiled wetlands. In the late summer of the early 90s (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. 4. There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." A close friend of the family who was on . I want more! 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). Let us know in the comments below! I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. Is there a Louisiana werewolf? Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Who knows what it is? The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. This is why I always read terms and conditions. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. 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. Was there really a monster in the swamps? The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. 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 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. The creature stood upright on two legs. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. Im not making this up. According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. That kind of transformation happens and I suspect that whats going on with this festival., But unlike sexy vampires or friendly alligators, Forets rougarou has been reimagined to champion a specific cause: protecting its habitat, which in turn will protect our own. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. There was a significant belief in the beast by the populace that people were put on trial and found guilty of being the fabled beast. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. It happened to three of us on Texas river,not sure if it was real or not ,but what we heard was not native to Texas . The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. 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. I got more specific with my search terms and soon stumbled upon something that reignited the idea of a creature like Bigfoot existing in our parts. 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 . He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. 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 hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. We got kicked out of Nova Scotia, and now were getting kicked out of Louisiana and it just feels like theres some generational trauma linked to being forced to move over and over again, he says. And then I realized that is what I saw! I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. An illegal moonshine distilling business once drove much of the area's economy, but competition could be shot down without any repercussions, according to the article. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. 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. Definitely a loup-garou. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. 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. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. 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. Loup-garou. 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Rougarou Sightings According to a lady from Louisiana, a local child was being chased by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. And as the stomping grounds for the rougarou have disappeared, so have tales about the beastuntil Foret made it his mission to save both. 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. 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. 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. The New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana's NBA team, were formerly known as the Hornets. 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. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. . According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. No matter how you spell it, the Rougarou, Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, Rugaru, or Loup Garou is a werewolf type creature living in the folklore of Cajun French Louisiana. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 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. 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. Other more out there schools of thought would suggest that these creatures or of a different origin, Alien, Spirit, even faerie. That these creatures are flesh and blood, but the reason they go undetected is because they are inter-dimensional beings that pop in and out of our reality. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. At first he thought it was a bear that was under the house causing a commotion, but as he approached the creature stood up and ran off into the swamp. Registration begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, and the contest begins at 4 p.m. Wow, thank you for that insight! She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. Such monster makeovers are common. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. In 2011, Foret launched Rougarou Fest in Houma, Terrebones parish seat and largest city, as both a fundraiser for the center and a way to revive the fading cryptid tradition. When I asked Mr. Nameless if the creature was covered in hair he told me that he could not make out any detail other than the figure was large, and almost black. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look.