rougarou sightings in louisiana

It was also preached that French Catholics that broke the Lent seven years in a row would be hunted down and killed by the beast. 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. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Is there a Louisiana werewolf? It was a full moon so it made spotting the Bullfrogs easier "super tasty btw", anyway we're wondering down by the . A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. The officer that submitted this report has over 40 years in military and law enforcement, a degree in Anthropology, and self educated in Darwinism, math and quantum physics. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. Curious Louisiana explains it's not all random. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. You have permission to edit this article. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. For those of you who haven't heard th. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. The jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf - Exemplore How does it differ from a traditional werewolf? Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf" : cryptids - reddit 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." In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children. Our parents would say things like, you better behave or the rougarou is gonna get you, says Jonathan Foret, a native of Terrebonne Parish, a patchwork of bayou and lowlands on the Gulf shore. Thank you! Often the story of the Rougarou has been used to instill fear in the hearts of Cajun children as a way to command obedience. 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. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Mysterious Swamp Monsters of Louisiana 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. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. After years of inbreeding, their appearance became less and less human-like, resulting in what people now call The Grunch. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. Curious Louisiana answers. 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. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. 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. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. 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. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. The dark figure crossed the road from the passenger side to the driver side, so it was traveling due south when it crossed the road. 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. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. 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. The brave friend dismissed what she saw for a moment and continued to search for the purse in the dark. Discovering the Rougarou - ArcGIS StoryMaps 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). 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. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - The Daily Advertiser The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. 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. That is if we are to believe that these creatures are flesh and blood biological entities. 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! It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. 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. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Your email address will not be published. Bears can stand up and run on their hind legs, whereas, wolves cannot. 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. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. According to the deputies, the Honey Island Swamp was a hellhole where criminals and monsters thrived. Deep in the swamps of south Louisiana, legend has it, there lives the Rougarou a mythical werewolf type creature with sharp claws and glowing eyes. 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. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. Thanks for sharing it with us! 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. For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website, and don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook so you don't miss out on any announcements. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. Save the Swamp: But, Beware the "Rougarou" - The National Wildlife The student would take evening walks while saying the rosary. The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. In one version, the beast hunts down and kills anyone who doesnt follow the rules of Lent. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. Its true! 4 Unique Tales of the Rougarou from Southern Louisiana - OnlyInYourState This a great article!! At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. Did your house get ransacked during the night? There was a problem saving your notification. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. Louisiana native. It stands upright on two legs, and is covered in hair. 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. The short answer is oral tradition. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Did a child disappear from the village without a trace? One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster - YouTube Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. 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. Official Post from Deborah Hatswell BBR Being Believed Research & Investigation This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. 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. 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. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. 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. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. One day her husband was walking back from his shop in the backyard, and was pretty shook up over what he witnessed. I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. 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. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. By the end, youll know the scariest rumors circulating in cajun land. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 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. The Rougarou myth is even so prevalent that the term "rougarouing" or similar terms have become used to describe a person who stays up late or is active at night. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. We know what you are probably thinking. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. 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 Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? Generations of children have heard the scary. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. The 2015 short film Atchafalaya centers around a game warden searching in a Louisiana swamp for a missing person who is hinted to have been taken by a loup-garou. The two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. 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 . The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. THE ROUGAROU - Folklore, Myths & Legends The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . 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. Such monster makeovers are common. Its incredible that I actually witnessed one and I do believe thats the only thing it couldve been. I need to do some more research on those spirits! Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. 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. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. This is why I always read terms and conditions. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. Who knows what it is? 51. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. 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. 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. A spell that as you will soon find out is not that easy to break. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. Bobby Brettel grew up in New Orleans, nearly 40 miles away from the moss-tangled bayous of eastern St. Tammany Parish's Honey Island Swamp. It happened to three of us on Texas river,not sure if it was real or not ,but what we heard was not native to Texas . Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Curious Louisiana answers. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. 9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails - YouTube The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. The tale of Rougarou originates from Southern Louisiana, and is often told to young children to prevent them from misbehaving. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. . Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. 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. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. Get more stories delivered right to your email. How did one Louisiana town's name get a bizarre pronunciation? 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 . 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. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. Your email address will not be published. "This thing had a flat back. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. For decades, the equivalent of one football field of coastline was lost per hour; while the rate has slowed, the regions long-term prognosis remains grim. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. Its fingernails are grisly claws. Crafty. The Rougarou roams the bayou in search for misbehaving children to frighten. "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. 10 Creepy Facts and Legends about New Orleans - Hotels 2023 Atlas Obscura. He let his mind wander. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. Before we get too far into an explanation let's first say it correctly, the proper pronunciation is, "Roo-Ga-Roo.". Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. [12] 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. 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. 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. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. 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. Can you really only eat oysters in 'r' months? Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. And then I realized that is what I saw! The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. Strange noise ? Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings - Rougarou's Cursed blog 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.