Its true! Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. The creature was black, hairy, and walking upright on two legs. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. 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. According to the deputies, the Honey Island Swamp was a hellhole where criminals and monsters thrived. In an interview conducted by Carter Buschardt, the officer stated that he went back to look at the end of shift report he filed the night of the encounter, but was unable to find the report. In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. 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. I had relatives that lived in Covington," Brettel said. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Caribbean island nation of Haiti, already steeped in the dark lore of zombies and voodoo magic, also has its own version of the infamous werewolf, which they call the je-rouges, or "red eyes." It is also referred to it as the French loup-garou and by the Creole word lougarou. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. It now craves human flesh and overturns small boats to devour and feast! If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. 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. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. Was there really a monster in the swamps? Will Seals' home was set afire and he was shot down while trying to escape the flames. This is why I always read terms and conditions. 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. It was enough just enough working knowledge for me to form an opinion. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. The history of the Rougarou is centuries-old and has many different origins, but the earliest mention of the infamous, mythical Louisiana werewolf comes from medieval France. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. The rougarou (or loup-garou) is a monster from Cajun folklore. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. "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. Wow, thank you for that insight! That is if we are to believe that these creatures are flesh and blood biological entities. 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. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. Its too late to turn back! Its fingernails are grisly claws. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. I want more! 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. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. 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. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! I hunt all over america and even in Africa a couple times ive run across crap that has made me avoid entire states and run across other things that i tried to stalk and kill one of these things i tried to kill is a loup garou i lived in deep louisiana until i was 11 i know about these things your gonna need some back story for this i subscribe to the idea that they are cursed humans and will have the curse till they die like wherewolves and the loup garou may even be a wherewolf because the only time ive ever found a claim of one that i couldnt easily blow off the description was the same as a where wolf like a humanoid grizzly bear on two legs with lots of steroids that aside i was doing some hunting one night for hog and saw a huge animal walk out stood 6 or 7 feet tall on two legs couldnt make out fine details due to light but i took a shot at it after i saw enough to realize it wasnt human i shot it in the head with a 45-70 those of you who dont get that its a rifle capable of taking large game like an elephant with one shot very strong round and for those of you who are gun people ill give some specs it was a 500 grain soft lead bullet hot loaded on 72 grains of powder (that doesnt sound like much but i shoot black powder in it not smokeless and no its not a muzzle loader it shoots brass cased bullets like a normal gun) anyway i hit it in the head and it got really pissed of and started to charge from about 200 yards away i shot it again in the chest and it ran off i spent the night tracking it mind you this all happemed at about 10 i only quit when i lost blood trail and foot print trail right around daylight i went home and that night there was a story of a man whos body had been found with two large holes that resembled bullet holes but it was ruled out because there was no trace of any lead or powder and he was drained of all his blood that chalked it up to a satanic ritual now to me it sounds like i killed a loup garou but hey maybe its still out there and just really pissed off. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). Your email address will not be published. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! 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. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. 4. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. The Rougarou has even been made into an action figure, part of a series that also features Sasquatch and the Yeti. 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. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. 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. There are quite a few roads that are known to be haunted or spirited in Louisiana, but none is quite as infamous as Bayou Sale Road, a long curvy road that connects Dulac, LA to Cocodrie, LA. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. Loup-garou. 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. The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. It was late in the evening and getting dark, so they could not see into the bush. Curious Louisiana answers. Foret grew up in southern Louisiana, between the Atchafalaya Basin and New Orleans, where stories of the rougarou are most often heardand he wouldnt venture into wooded areas at night because of them. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? 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. Its popularity has seen it placed on shirts, mugs, in Hollywood and even seen roller coasters named after it. 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). For those of you who haven't heard th. She witnessed someone slinking around her property. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. There are multiple categories you can enter, including ones for kids and pets. 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. Offer subject to change without notice. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. The details of just seeing the eyes suggest that this sighting happened in the early morning while it was still dark. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. He let his mind wander. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. [12] Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Growing up, my Mom always called it the Wigawoo, and I never knew any different til I was 30something. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is a prime example of Rougarou supernatural popularity. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. The neighbor then said he saw an 8 foot tall creature standing on two legs. The Rougarou is also thought to be nothing more than a bogeyman story to scare children or Catholics into obedience. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Curious Louisiana answers. Dragons, once the ultimate test of a heros courage, have been effectively domesticated. In the article, we will attempt to answer these questions and more. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. Theres a howl in the near distance. Some versions of the myth involve witchcraft, wherein a witch has the ability to curse someone to be a Rougarou. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. 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. I am a journalist from Louisiana who has always been fascinated by folk lore and its cultural impact. 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. Well, the rougarou of the Bayou country has a pretty strong link to the werewolf of ancient times in Europe and France.