Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. Your email address will not be published. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. 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. The Husband also described the creature as being dark in color and large. Full report can be found on http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, 6 Exercises You Can Do with a Resistance Band, 4 Southern Traditions You Should Know About. Foret recalls hearing of one legendary rougarou run-in, when a young boy out for a stroll, armed with only his oyster knife, encountered the creature. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. Curious Louisiana answers. "I think that there's magic in the swamps that's celebrated at Rougarou," Foret says. The Rougarou life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. Honey Island Swamp Monster It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. 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 Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. Or else you may find yourself prey to the legendary Rougarou. 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It's okay, because we're here to bust them! 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 Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. 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. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! That these creatures are flesh and blood, but the reason they go undetected is because they are inter-dimensional beings that pop in and out of our reality. About four weeks ago, PB and his 5-year-old daughter were walking along their long dirt driveway that leads to their home. There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." I need to do some more research on those spirits! 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. Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Let us know in the comments below! This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Often the story of the Rougarou has been used to instill fear in the hearts of Cajun children as a way to command obedience. 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. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. 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 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. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. He let his mind wander. I want more! The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. Overall, Weve seen the evolution of the werewolf become a more sophisticated, debonair character, Ancelet says. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. There also exist more supernatural explanations for the origins of the Rougarou. These stories were used to keep children in line and out of the woods. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. 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. [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. 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. Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . 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. . 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. 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. 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. We cant make this stuff up. Required fields are marked *. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. Wow, thank you for that insight! Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. It now craves human flesh and overturns small boats to devour and feast! No purchase necessary. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. I think its fascinating,'' said Brettel. We know what you are probably thinking. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 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. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. 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. Strange noise ? The creature stood upright on two legs. Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. Thats no werewolf, though. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Apparently that was a thing they did back then. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. 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. 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. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. Deep within the swamps of south Louisiana, legend has it, there lives the Rougarou a legendary werewolf sort creature with sharp claws and glowing eyes. To kill some time before his date, Mr. Nameless decided to take an evening cruise down Peavine Road to the lake. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. 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! He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". See. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. Witches?Witch doctors! 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. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. 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. He and his partner were a part of a unit in Jefferson Parish that were first responders to criminal calls, making this a most credible report. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Talk of the monster, of course, is also a staple of some of the swamp tours operating in the area. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. The K-9 unit lost the scent once it ran into the marsh. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. 22. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. 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. Did your house get ransacked during the night? It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. We love meat too, but come on. 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." Its too late to turn back! But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. 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. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. 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. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. Some sources claim the myth originated in medieval France, when belief in werewolves would have been far more prevalent. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees.