That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. Stories on its origin vary, but some say its a spirit while others claim its a child that was raised by alligators. Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. Witches?Witch doctors! Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. 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. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? Dont believe us? Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Its too late to turn back! In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster - YouTube 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. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. The student waited 5 more minutes to see if the sounds would return but the encounter was over. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. Some legends of the beast say it can only be killed by fire, others say it can be killed while its in its vulnerable human form. There was also a story that was told to kids that if they didnt do what their parents asked, a loup-garou would come and steal them away in the middle of the night. A 1926 article in the New Orleans States juxtaposes scenes of the wild honeysuckle and vibrant Southern foliage of the area against bushes used as hiding spots for murderers to ambush victims. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. What is the Rougarou? | Louisiana Swamp Base When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. A large dark figure on two legs crossed the road. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings - Rougarou's Cursed blog Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. 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. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Required fields are marked *. 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. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. All rights reserved. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. 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. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. 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. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. Enjoy these allegedly. According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana. [12] On a different occasion that same Laplace man was out in the swamp with these two Doberman pinchers when he spotted a 7 foot tall bi-pedal creature that caused the dogs to run off. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. 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. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. What I saw scared the life out of me. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. 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. "This thing had a flat back. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Curious Louisiana answers. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. 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. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf | Deborah Hatswell BBR Being I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. The Rougarou life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. 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. This is why I always read terms and conditions. And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . I need to do some more research on those spirits! The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. 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." When they reached the paved section of the driveway, PB noticed a dead 90 lb male Bobcat laying along the edge. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. 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. Im not making this up. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. 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. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. 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. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. In this version, the Rougarou is in human form during the day, only transforming at night, meaning he could blend in with society and no one would ever know! The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. I think its fascinating,'' said Brettel. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf. - Paranomaly Podcast Rougarou - Wikipedia It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. No purchase necessary. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. 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. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. So this happened to me a few years ago, I was visiting a friend's house in the Houston River area, that section of the river is pretty swampy so we were frog hunting at night. These monsters are said to roam the cities, swamps, and scary places of Louisiana in search of their next victims, and its to your benefit to stay educated if you want any hope of survival. 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. 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. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). 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 . He let his mind wander. The Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. 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. 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 . Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You 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 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who dont follow the rules of Lent, which is similar to the telling of the old French stories. As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. 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). The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. 4. According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. One day her husband was walking back from his shop in the backyard, and was pretty shook up over what he witnessed. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. Louisiana's Rougarou Fest - Enchanted Living Magazine But for decades, hes wondered about one of the swamp's fabled creatures the Honey Island Swamp Monster, a legendary 500-pound beast that some claim hides amid the cypress trees andmurky waters. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. History of the Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf - Pelican State of Mind This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . Rougarou Fest | Houma, Louisiana Stories of cajun folklore monsters have been passed down for decadescenturies even. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? It throws its head back, letting out a blood-curdling howl to the moon. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. "Reporting a sighting of Bigfoot, Sasquatch and even the Honey Island Swamp Monster does not get you labeled a crazy person anymore, and therefore, those who believe eyewitnesses are not labeled crazy either," said Dana Holyfield, granddaughter of Harlan Ford a man often credited with having the first recorded encounter with the purported swamp monster. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. Your email address will not be published. Thank you! For those of you who haven't heard th. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. 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. 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. 10/8/21: Rougarou - an American Skinwalker in Louisiana W/ Seth Your email address will not be published.