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. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! 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. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. 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. It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. I found a report from Civil War veteran Fredrick Kliebert who was walking home from a squirrel hunt when he saw what he described as a giant. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. 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. 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 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. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - Paranormal Outlaw Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. 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. Then my son started asking me about the rougarou legend and I was like a wha t? Foret grew up in southern Louisiana, between the Atchafalaya Basin and New Orleans, where stories of the rougarou are most often heardand he wouldnt venture into wooded areas at night because of them. 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. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. 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. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. 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. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Definitely a loup-garou. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. 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. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Turns out voodoo is still in. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . Its incredible that I actually witnessed one and I do believe thats the only thing it couldve been. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. Were not afraid. Required fields are marked *. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. This is why I always read terms and conditions. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. Its true! Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. 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. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. The Rougarou is often also associated with the Skunk Ape or the Honey Island Swamp Monster, likely due to another variation of the myth that states the creature is a shapeshifter that can change forms between human and animal at will, sometimes making it seem more like a swamp Sasquatch than a werewolf. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - The Daily Advertiser The Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf. - Paranomaly Podcast 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. 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 are quite a few roads that are known to be haunted or spirited in Louisiana, but none is quite as infamous as Bayou Sale Road, a long curvy road that connects Dulac, LA to Cocodrie, LA. Strange noise ? After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. 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. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. With the head of a werewolf and the body of a man, the creature is said to prey on misbehaving children and dates back to medieval France. Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. Other more out there schools of thought would suggest that these creatures or of a different origin, Alien, Spirit, even faerie. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. 10 Creepy Facts and Legends about New Orleans - Hotels . 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. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. 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. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. Its fingernails are grisly claws. 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. Well written and well documented. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. 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 . 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. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. Love Louisiana? Will Seals' home was set afire and he was shot down while trying to escape the flames. Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Or else you may find yourself prey to the legendary Rougarou. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. The man dropped his gun and ran. 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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. 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. Loup-garou. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. 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. Offer subject to change without notice. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. 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. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. History of the Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf - Pelican State of Mind The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. Your email address will not be published. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. 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. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. 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. One recent supposed sighting came from a woman in Harvey, Louisiana, who claimed she saw a Grunch eating one of her neighbor's dogs. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is.
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