In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. The man dropped his gun and ran. The trickster figure really went from being the bad guy, the one to watch out for, to being a hero, says Rabalais, adding that the shift reflected the reality of the people who told and retold the stories. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. In this version of the tale, a large white dog followed a young boy home, annoying him throughout the walk. Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again. 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It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Strange noise ? He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. Disclaimer: http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. Offer subject to change without notice. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. 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. Fair Use Notice: The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. 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. 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. By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. 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. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. Dont believe us? Watch Live . 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. 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. Definitely a loup-garou. This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which may not be specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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). Rougarou Caught on Aerial Footage Breakdown The Paranormal Review, Barbeque, and the Outdoors! 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. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. This terrifying creature has evolved over millenniabut never lost the need to feed. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. 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. Louisiana native. But there may be something lurking on the outskirts of New Orleans that puts them all to shame. Watch Live . The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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. 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. 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. According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. 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. 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. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. Variations also associate it with animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens . A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. By using the Phantoms and Monsters Site, you acknowledge that you may be exposed to Content from other users that is offensive, indecent, inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise objectionable. The commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. Variations also associate it with animals such as pigs, cows, and chickens, due to the fact that wolves are not often seen in the area. Then, they would round up village folks that they assumed were Loup-Garous, and hold public trials for them. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Wow, thank you for that insight! Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. At the time, it was called the loup-garou, and many crimes were blamed on the beast. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. It was still very much daylight when this happened but the only detail he could make out was that the creature was upright and a bipedal hominid, dark in color. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. 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). However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. In this version of the story, once a human has turned into a Rougarou, they will roam the streets on the night of the full moon, focusing on small towns. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Seguin. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. See. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. 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. 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. 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. Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. No purchase necessary. Thu 06/01/23. Its popularity has seen it placed on shirts, mugs, in Hollywood and even seen roller coasters named after it. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. 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. 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. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. Your email address will not be published. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. We love to hear your feedback. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Loup-garou. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. Glad the information was here. Massive Wolf-Like Creature Encountered by 2 Friend 1919 BEK (Black Eyed Kids) Incident in Sandoval, I 9 Ft. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. Bizarre Clothed Humanoid Encountered in Louisiana Black Eyed Seniors: 3 Different Creepy Accounts. This is why I always read terms and conditions. Enjoy these allegedly. 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. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. But first, lets dive into some of its histories. Cajun legend says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human being. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. Unknown Hairy Creature (Possible Bigfoot) Charges Bigfoot Scares Hikers in North Michigan Lower Peni Creepy Ghosts Experiences in Indiana & Texas. The dog was urging the boy to attack, and eventually the boy pulled a knife out and slashed the dog open. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. How does it differ from a traditional werewolf? Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. 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. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. This way, his spell was broken, making him able to turn back into human form. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. 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. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. In a new subdivision that was still being developed named Sheryls Meadows, a 12 year old riding their mini-bike along with their cousin saw a lumbering creature approximately 500 yards away. Im not making this up. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. A story in The Nicholls Worth, a local college paper, titled "Rougarou Remains Strong Figure in Cajun Folklore," recounts a story from a woman about an experience in her youth. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-gar You understand that all Content posted on, transmitted through, or linked from the Phantoms and Monsters Site, are the sole responsibility of the person from whom such Content originated. Scary Bigfoot Incident Near Daniels, Maryland. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. We do have water spirits, such as Leviathan, a giant alligator spirit, who is actually mentioned in the Bible. The rougarou once served to scare adults into being good Catholics, and children into staying home after dark, Rabalais says, adding, Now there are other things to be scared of, like rising water levels and hurricanes.. Phantoms and Monsters does not control, and is not responsible for Content made available through the Phantoms and Monsters Site. On a moonless night those are the darkest woods Ive ever trekked through.that includes the Black Forest, Mark Twain National Forest Missouri, the hills of West Virginia, and the Pine Flats in New Jersey. upper neuadd reservoir history 1; downtown dahlonega webcam 1; permeated by a sense of longing. I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. 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. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. That way, everyone is reminded of what may happen if you don't keep your promises during the Lenten season, which begins the day after Mardi Gras. 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