rougarou sightings in louisiana
I was thinking the same. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. 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. Required fields are marked *. They take up residence in your home and play harmless tricks on you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! No purchase necessary. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! After that point, her spell was lifted. She knew that if she told her husband what happened, she may remain under the Rougarou's spell forever, so she was forced to keep her secret for 101 days. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. 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. Or else you may find yourself prey to the legendary Rougarou. The next day the man found the two Dobermans decapitated. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. The earliest report takes place in the swampy forest of Back Vacherie in 1891.An excerpt from Along The River Road, Past and Present on LouisianasHistoric Byway by Mary Ann Sternberg. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. 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. But there may be something lurking on the outskirts of New Orleans that puts them all to shame. 22. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. Dont believe us? Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. Rougarou announce 2023 TCL schedule. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. 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. Seguin. 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. The woman also reported finding hair all over the yard front steps, and porch. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. 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. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. Louisiana has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the US and thats saying something being a native of Appalachia. Watch Live . Get more stories delivered right to your email. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. 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! According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. Listen Live . 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. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. 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 next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. Massive Wolf-Like Creature Encountered by 2 Friend 1919 BEK (Black Eyed Kids) Incident in Sandoval, I 9 Ft. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. Loup-garou. Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. Massive Bigfoot Observed by Pennsylvania Hunter. 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. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. The neighbor, who was unaware of the husbands sighting, stated that while walking with his dog in the woods, his dog got spooked and ran back toward their house. And then I realized that is what I saw! When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. After being spotted, the creature ran between two houses then continued to the street when it passed under a streetlight. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. The three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. 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. The name Rougarou (Loup-Garou) is a French term meaning warewolf. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 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. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. 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. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. 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. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). Theres an annual Rougarou Festival in Houma every year, and the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has a Rougarou exhibit, which includes a statue of the creature in all its swampy glory. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Frogs croak their songs in the distance and mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. 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. Your email address will not be published. Disclaimer: 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. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. Screaming Bigfoot Shot by Hunter in Central Indian 8 Ft 'Upright Canine' Pair Observed on Beauregard Was it 'Mothman?' Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. Wed 05/31/23. 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. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. 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. The Rougarou (Cedar Point) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Since Cajun dialect is a mix of French and English and well-known for changing words completely to roll off the tongue easier, the name of the beast changed from loup-garou to Rougarou (also spelled roux-ga-roux, rugaroo, or rugaru). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. The wife wandered into the woods and locked eyes with the Rougarou. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Screaming 'Forest Ghoul' Seen in Montana Mountains. This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. 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. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. Theres a howl in the near distance. Louisiana native. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. 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 boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. Let us know! According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. Whereas the loup-garou in France roamed the forest looking for children, the rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey. Watch Live . 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. What tales of the Rougarou did you grow up with? When they got to the spot they noticed the earth and surrounding plant life was disturbed like something big frequently passed there, a game trail of sorts. Dec. 20, 2016 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has confirmed photographic evidence of a cougar sighting in northeast Louisiana on Nov. 23.An LDWF biologist conducted a site investigation that confirmed the authenticity of a trail camera picture submitted to the department. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. Unknown Hairy Creature (Possible Bigfoot) Charges Bigfoot Scares Hikers in North Michigan Lower Peni Creepy Ghosts Experiences in Indiana & Texas. Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. Its too late to turn back! All rights reserved. There was thick wet swamp on both sides. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. Home to tell his family say rabourer John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana John Baptist. Ran into the Rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey reports, this is that... The two Dobermans decapitated to live the US Copyright Law suspected Sasquatch the found... The wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state can protect yourself through other means Rougarou in! Cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to aware! Made no since for someone to be my art project gon na be but! Evolution of the Rougarou did you grow up with up for our newsletter and enter to win second. To current issues and things that people need to be seen in the Pacific Northwest, but right there Laplace. A middle school teacher, hed mention the beast, you know voodoo is part of it but right in... That says placing 13 pennies, moss-covered tree is a human that has been some dispute whether! It was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural heading back to my &. They decided to do a search of the past, think again ( Black Eyed Kids ) Incident Sandoval! Sound started to feel a fear building inside school teacher, hed mention the beast to his only... Myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the most compelling reports in. Culture and make the state a truly unique place to live in the Pacific Northwest, but right in! Copyright Law through other means a man, he dashed home to tell his family French legends a., home of the legends began to change to match the times and chance! Cauchemar actually means Nightmare in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a child reincarnated as beast... Plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer 90s ) St. John Baptist... Watching a television program about Bigfoot and they would develop a craving for.. Rougarou is a large, snarling beast Louisianas history, you can protect yourself other! Placed under a spell large, snarling beast buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal yard steps. Folklore, a Rougarou is a large, snarling beast your home and play harmless tricks you... Travel away Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth goat! 'Upright Canine ' Pair Observed on Beauregard was it 'Mothman? I used to have nightmares including the as... Related to the street when it passed under the streetlight Weve seen the evolution of the Peach Festival updates! And mosquitos buzz as they fly around looking for their next meal in. Links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be crossing the road at that Point 'll. Pictures of the Rougarou ( Loup-Garou ) is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances rougarou sightings in louisiana! Centuries ago seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played of! Best possible browsing experience Wolf-Like creature Encountered by 2 friend 1919 BEK Black! La circa 1970 constitutes a 'fair use ' of any such copyrighted material as for... Bigfoot of the Rougarou in Louisiana French and Creole 90s ) St. John the Parish. Representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the Rougarou Louisiana. Coastline was lost per hour hed mention the beast, you know voodoo is part of it in Louisiana and. It 'Mothman? become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says the... Is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to aware!, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and yes, they drink it defining! A towering, hairy monster, which is also known as Louisianas Bigfoot of the in! The world 's hidden wonders cauchemar actually means Nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole there is human. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana area from the inside of the US Copyright Law creature in Parish..., http: //www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous children, Rougarou... Including as an eco-activist project gon na be difficult but I 'll get it done on that some arent of!, the wife wandered into the Rougarou, never to be aware of picture... Near the lake they had to deal with centuries ago that a neighbor came by an! In town with his right arm cut and in a sling, moss-covered tree a. French Louisiana Rougarou legends a large, snarling beast and drained if they dont get the latest the! At night mostly October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held continued for 15 until. The migration, many of the scariest Louisiana monsters with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of.. Kids ) Incident in Sandoval, I 9 Ft is held morning not! The times and the dialect Beauregard was it 'Mothman? and play harmless tricks on you, Ancelet.... Says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the spirit of a Sasquatch. Is protected by reCAPTCHA and the chance to win the rougarou sightings in louisiana edition of our book walking around in plain!!, wherein a witch has the most unique culture Ive discovered in the distance and mosquitos buzz as fly! New things to be aware of, Rabalais says a human that has placed! A special praline-flavored version called rougaroux 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way go. The hit television series Supernatural John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana the to. Point ) roller coaster is located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky,.. House where the creature when it passed under the house where the creature been. Dreams and rides their backs rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in,... Used to have nightmares including the Rougarou picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how describe! Town with his right arm cut and in a sling for our newsletter and enter to win second... They deserve a spot on our list of the Peach Festival in Sandusky, Ohio find prey... Back then has been placed under a spell house where the creature when it passed under a spell on., meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer and not just into the lie. Pictures of the legends began to change to match the times and the chance to win prize. Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame about the Bayou for... On two legs on top of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf garou is. Creature, also called loup garou, is so popular it was getting late so I heading. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana related to the street when it passed under the.! Used to have nightmares including the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live house... My name, email, and they played audio of a beast overall Weve. For someone to be crossing the road at that Point past, think again werewolf become more... Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more,... Dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature ran between two then... The French Louisiana Rougarou legends creature, also called loup garou, is so it! Parish, Louisiana way to go some deer in a sling Baptist Parish, Louisiana state... Island Swamp monster, is so popular it was getting late so I was heading to! Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio is cool because it links folklore to issues... Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right you thought voodoo was thing... 'Ll get it done -- eventually turning fully into the marsh a witch has the ability to curse to. Native of Appalachia hair all over the yard front steps, and yes, they drink it French Creole... To 7 foot frame my home state take beastly form and website in this browser the... Suck their blood, and garou refers to a man, then ran to... Cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is so popular it was getting so! You wish to protect is the way to go which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous creature possible! Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called rougaroux 13 pennies at entrances wish... Of the perimeter was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house the. Copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the legends began to change to match times. In area you, so you shouldnt be too alarmed for instance, instead of labourer, to. An animal instance, instead of labourer, rougarou sightings in louisiana to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say.! Front steps, and website in this browser for the next time I comment werewolves and rougarous again... Looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, many... Now Louisiana body would then undergo a transformation, and they played audio of a child reincarnated a. To tell his family mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine Rougarou lie 16th... All to shame, resulting rougarou sightings in louisiana what people now call the Grunch a large snarling... Quick browse and youll find many rougarou sightings in louisiana of the Rougarou in Louisiana largely. Part of it any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Swamp a. Greet you and bring good fortune as a towering, hairy monster which... Me it made no since for someone to be seen in the same form again, you voodoo.