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. French and Canadian settlers as they migrated brought with them the legend of the beast to Louisiana. 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. 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. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. 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. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. 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. 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. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. 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. As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. Some months prior to this her entire family told her they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, followed by a gurgling noise coming from the woods. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. Its too late to turn back! People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou? The details of just seeing the eyes suggest that this sighting happened in the early morning while it was still dark. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. 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). This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. 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. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. 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. NOTE: Any use of witness information, which includes any attempt to contact a witness or persons involved in an event, is strictly prohibited without the written consent of Lon Strickler, 'Winged Cryptids: Humanoids, Monsters & Anomalous Creatures Casebook', Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid / Flying Entity Sightings & Encounters, Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research Team / Affiliates, Pennsylvania Upright Canine / Dogman Investigations, 'Crypto Four Corners International' Investigations - In Memory of JC Johnson. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 22. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Listen Live . The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. A large dark figure on two legs crossed the road. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! The Rougarou life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. 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 wife wandered into the woods and locked eyes with the Rougarou. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. 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. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! At first he thought it was a bear that was under the house causing a commotion, but as he approached the creature stood up and ran off into the swamp. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Rougarou. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Fair Use Notice: The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. 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. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. 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 Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. It was a fall evening and this student was walking on a road in back of the property that borders cow pastures and piney woods. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. Did your house get ransacked during the night? An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. A woman reports that several nights before the actual sighting there was something rummaging around underneath ther house. This unique festival is a great way to celebrate the folklore of the Southern Louisiana swamps, as well as celebrate the unique environmental heritage there. He told himself if whatever that was jumps out at me, I can always hit the accelerator. When he got to the area where the creature crossed the road, he looked out the drivers side window but did not see anything. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. Thank you! At the time, it was called the loup-garou, and many crimes were blamed on the beast. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. 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. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. 2023 Atlas Obscura. An elderly witness recently observed a pair of 8 foot tall upright canines stalking a herd of cattle in southern Beauregard Parish On May 4, 2020 I posted the following - Upright Canine (Possible 'Rougarou') Encountered in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana - In which a Beauregard Parish, Louisiana property owner and his young daughter encountered an utterly terrifying upright canine near their home. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. The Rougarou is also thought to be nothing more than a bogeyman story to scare children or Catholics into obedience. Kezia Kamenetz is a native to southern Louisiana and lives in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans currently. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. As it gets to 13, it becomes confused. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Usually theyd find someone in the woods or someone in the village who was just acting strange.. Let us know in the comments below! 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. 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