rougarou sightings in louisiana

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. The creature is only vaguely seen in the film with a head resembling a bear. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. Its too late to turn back! I want more! 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. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. 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. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? 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. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Such monster makeovers are common. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. 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. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Thank you! I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. I was thinking the same. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 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. 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. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. 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. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Registration begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, and the contest begins at 4 p.m. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. Enjoy these allegedly. 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. 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. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. What I saw scared the life out of me. One recent supposed sighting came from a woman in Harvey, Louisiana, who claimed she saw a Grunch eating one of her neighbor's dogs. 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. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana swamp monster) is not a new tale to anyone that lives or grew up in Louisiana. He flagged me down to speak with me. That is if we are to believe that these creatures are flesh and blood biological entities. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. There are multiple categories you can enter, including ones for kids and pets. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. Like other "monsters" Loch Ness, Bigfoot the Honey Island Swamp Monster has developed an enduring legend. Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. 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. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. Legends of the Rougarou. The Rougarou is a legendary creature that is often depicted on shirts, cups, and other forms of merchandise. Its fingernails are grisly claws. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. 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. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Stories of cajun folklore monsters have been passed down for decadescenturies even. No purchase necessary. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? I was compelled to dig in further to see if I could find more sighting reports in the Southeast Louisiana area, if only to substantiate these other reports. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. We love meat too, but come on. 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. Even the act of self-defense could be life-altering. In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. Talk of the monster, of course, is also a staple of some of the swamp tours operating in the area. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. Turns out voodoo is still in. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. In 1989 this man was alone on top of the levee near Bayou Steel; He was waiting for his brother to meet him to go hunting behind the levee. 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. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Were not afraid. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. How does it differ from a traditional werewolf? The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. 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. Did a child disappear from the village without a trace? The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. The creature stood upright on two legs. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. The name changed to rougarou in Cajun Louisiana because l and r are linguistically liquid consonants and they change places a lot, says Barry Jean Ancelet, a Cajun folklorist and professor emeritus with the University of Lafayette. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. 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. Required fields are marked *. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. 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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 . We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. 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. This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. The next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. Your email address will not be published. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". Stories on its origin vary, but some say its a spirit while others claim its a child that was raised by alligators. In an attempt to keep occupied and at home during these various phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, on a whim I decided to search out Louisiana based Bigfoot sightings. When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. Generations of children have heard the scary. 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. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. 22. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. 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. 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. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. 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The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. 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. However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. 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. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. 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. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . The New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana's NBA team, were formerly known as the Hornets. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Who knows what it is? French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. In the legend, this beast is often described as having the body of a man and the head of a wolf or a dog and prowls Louisiana swamps looking for misbehaving children. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. 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 sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. A close friend of the family who was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, she lived down the street from my dad. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. Did your house get ransacked during the night? According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Proud foodie. According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. [12] Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! Were you told the story of the Rougarou as . Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. Curious Louisiana answers. I need to do some more research on those spirits! "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. 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. Frequently referred to as beast in the story, the part-man, part-animal with piercing yellow eyes has appeared in several anecdotes by self-styled witnesses since the 1960s. The friend forgot her purse in the car. 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. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. Nope, not The GrinchThe Grunch. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". 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. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. "Who. 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. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. An estimated 15,000 people now attend Rougarou Festival, which still manages to provide a very genuine peek into a culture and a land unlike any other in the world. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. 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. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. The Rougarou, or as others may say, Loup garou, is a bayou-dwelling werewolf. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. 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. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. When they reached the paved section of the driveway, PB noticed a dead 90 lb male Bobcat laying along the edge. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. 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." I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! 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. It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. A 9ft tall man with a black beard and what appeared to be a cloak of brown fur hanging from his neck by a rope. 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. A monster? Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly.