Thats no werewolf, though. This is why I always read terms and conditions. Once the cousin jumped back on they yelled GO! They did not look back after that. 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. We may never really find out.. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? The Caribbean island nation of Haiti, already steeped in the dark lore of zombies and voodoo magic, also has its own version of the infamous werewolf, which they call the je-rouges, or "red eyes." It is also referred to it as the French loup-garou and by the Creole word lougarou. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. You have permission to edit this article. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. 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. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 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. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. 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. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. Some sources claim the myth originated in medieval France, when belief in werewolves would have been far more prevalent. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. 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. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Legends of the Rougarou. Rougarou Fest/Facebook. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence in local culture and beyond. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. The line on the trees in this picture taken Nov. 16, 2017, shows the swamp's typical high-water mark, which generally arrives in the spring. 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. Wow, thank you for that insight! 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. Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! The two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. 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. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. Louisiana monsters have been the subject of controversy for years. 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. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. 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). Your email address will not be published. Its too late to turn back! 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. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. mystery of Marie Laveau, Louisianas Voodoo Queen, Jacques St. Germain, The Infamous Louisiana Vampire, Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure, History of the Louisiana Snowball and Its Flavors. 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. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. Such monster makeovers are common. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. . 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 . What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. 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. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". If you'vegot a questionabout something Louisiana-centric, ask us. 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. According to two deputies who refused to have their names published for fear of retaliation, killers knew they could disappear into the swamp's thick fog, their whereabouts untrackable by officers or bloodhounds. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. 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. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. Stories on its origin vary, but some say its a spirit while others claim its a child that was raised by alligators. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. He let his mind wander. The full moon hangs high over the Louisiana swampland. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. 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. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. Your email address will not be published. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. In the swamps within the Greater New Orleans area and the Acadiana is where this beast has come to live. He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. 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. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. "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. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. 51. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Proud foodie. 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. And then I realized that is what I saw! As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. 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. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Country's answer to Bigfoot. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. 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. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. 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. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. The short answer is oral tradition. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Who knows what it is? Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). 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. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. 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.
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