They will wreak havoc throughout the town until someone shoots or stabs the creature. Trey Iles Baton Rouge. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. 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. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou? The wife wandered into the woods and locked eyes with the Rougarou. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). An unknown creature has been mutilating and killing animals and perhaps humans in southern Louisiana; some locals attribute the attacks to a rougarou. 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. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. Rougarou announce 2023 TCL schedule. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. 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. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. 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. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? Despite the Rougarou legend seemingly beginning as a way to scare Catholics and children, many locals maintain its existence and have their own personal stories, especially among the older generation. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. 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. Usually theyd find someone in the woods or someone in the village who was just acting strange.. 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. 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 officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. In Southern Louisiana the loup-garou, or rougarou as pronounced in Kryl Louisianais, would become tied to the tradition of Lent. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. No purchase necessary. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. The next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. 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. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. 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. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? 22.4K subscribers 36K views 6 years ago #bigfoot #paranormal Make sure you check out this video!. Turns out voodoo is still in. The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. Dont believe us? 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. 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. Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. After the Cajun people migrated to Nova . Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. 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. Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Screaming 'Forest Ghoul' Seen in Montana Mountains. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster 1,356 views Premiered Oct 31, 2020 58 Dislike Share Save The Traveling Gilberts 876 subscribers Subscribe The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. Scary Bigfoot Incident Near Daniels, Maryland. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. Rougarou custom jerseys on sale now! Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! There was a significant belief in the beast by the populace that people were put on trial and found guilty of being the fabled beast. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? Love Louisiana? Thats no werewolf, though. Thu 06/01/23. 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.. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. 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. 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. Were not afraid. Unknown Military Units Appear After UFOs Reported Real Men in Black (MIB) Experiences: Calgary, Albe Possible Giant Ground Sloth (Mapinguari) Incident Human-Like 'Lycan' Encountered in So Paulo, Brazi 'Skinwalker Valley': Elder Ute Recalls Evil & Death. The man heard a noise behind him; he turned around and witnessed two large, red eyes staring back at him. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. DATE. Whereas the loup-garou in France roamed the forest looking for children, the rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. 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. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. Generations of children have heard the scary. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. 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. Loup-garou. The only credibility I can give to these reports is that they ran in the paper. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. In the late summer of the early 90s (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-gar rougarou sightings in louisiana. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. To my surprise I got text response saying Im outside in my backyard if you want to come over, its not much of a story. I remember it was a brief encounter and not many details but my objective was to write down what he remembered from his perspective, rather than a second-hand accounting from my childhood perspective. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. In the swamps within the Greater New Orleans area and the Acadiana is where this beast has come to live. 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. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. 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. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 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. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. 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. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Crafty. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. That kind of transformation happens and I suspect that whats going on with this festival., But unlike sexy vampires or friendly alligators, Forets rougarou has been reimagined to champion a specific cause: protecting its habitat, which in turn will protect our own. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Legend says a group of albino dwarves isolated themselves from society in the woods just outside of New Orleans. The only one I say can I truly believe is the sighting told to me by Mr. Nameless and that is only because I have known him my entire life and trust him. I need to do some more research on those spirits! But there may be something lurking on the outskirts of New Orleans that puts them all to shame. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. 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. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. Acadiana. I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. The human animal sobbing sounds were also accompanied by the snapping of branches and the crackling of leaves that gave the impression of something large moving through the woods. Southall returns for second stint as Rougarou manager in 2023. Stories of werewolves and hideous creatures from hell have their roots in human behaviors that are seen as beastly and satanic. It throws its head back, letting out a blood-curdling howl to the moon. For the sake of anonymity this family friend will remain nameless, so I will refer to him as Mr. Nameless. The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide, US Ghost Adventures New Orleans Ghosts Review. 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. The Louisiana werewolf is the rougarou of the bayoua very similar-looking creature. The anonyms Laplace man said he was out near Ruddock with a friend, they were clearing land with a bulldozer when they came across footprints in the mud that were at least 19 inches in length. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". This way, his spell was broken, making him able to turn back into human form. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. Had me captured. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. Definitely a loup-garou. Your email address will not be published. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). 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. The dog was urging the boy to attack, and eventually the boy pulled a knife out and slashed the dog open. Buy Tickets. 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. Not discuss this much past that night 12 year old that was a thing they did back then live! A local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to it... The trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Ghosts Review human crying save name! Witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Lutin into swamps! 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