Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Let us know in the comments below! The seminary student stood still, they got the impression that the source of the noise was moving along a path in the woods and getting closer. My Encounter With a Rougarou "aka Louisiana Werewolf". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. It happened to three of us on Texas river,not sure if it was real or not ,but what we heard was not native to Texas . I was thinking the same. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Honey Island Swamp Monster 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. Offer subject to change without notice. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. In another variation of the story, the half man half wolf monster targets and kills Catholics that have failed to follow the rules of Lent. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. 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. When travelling down the interstate or the backroads in Louisiana, youll see lots of beautiful scenery. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. 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. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. And we value equal representation for allso they deserve a spot on our list of the scariest Louisiana monsters! Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. About four weeks ago, PB and his 5-year-old daughter were walking along their long dirt driveway that leads to their home. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. The lady said, "The next day, a distinguished physician arrived in town with his right arm bandaged and cut. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. Another well-known swamp monster born out of Cajun folklore is the Rougarou. Sightings have given rise to a number of stories describing creepy things that hide in the dark and dont play nice. 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. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. 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. 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. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. Stories on its origin vary, but some say its a spirit while others claim its a child that was raised by alligators. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. 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. Thanks for sharing it with us! It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. If your keys go missing without explanation, it could be a Lutin! The next day the man found the two Dobermans decapitated. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. According to the woman, "The next day a prominent physician appeared in town with his right arm cut and in a sling. 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. I remember he kept repeating something to the effect of look, Im not sure what I saw. At that time the only reference I had to Bigfoot was a few TV shows and a book I checked out a few times from my schools library. For the original report of this sighting visit bfro.net Report #2764, Late October, near Sorrento, Louisiana a commuter was heading home. Is there really a Honey Island Swamp Monster, Louisiana's Bigfoot? As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. A 1926 article in the New Orleans States juxtaposes scenes of the wild honeysuckle and vibrant Southern foliage of the area against bushes used as hiding spots for murderers to ambush victims. In the late summer of the early 90s (actual year up for debate), I was riding my bike. 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). Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. 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. Another telling of the story says that the Rougarou is under a 101-day curse, unless the affected person can transfer the curse to another human being. 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." 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. One day her husband was walking back from his shop in the backyard, and was pretty shook up over what he witnessed. 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. While the officers were talking to the lady, a K-9 unit arrived on scene and when they began their search the dog alerted to something. 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. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. He flagged me down to speak with me. The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. 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. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. If you have lived in Louisiana, there is a significant chance you have heard the lore of the Rougarou (also spelled as Rouxgaroux). I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. In 1974, Ford, a wildlife photographer and former air traffic controller, claimed to have witnessed the creature while exploring potential hunting grounds. You can reach the Curious Louisiana team at CuriousLouisiana@theadvocate.com. An estimated 15,000 people now attend Rougarou Festival, which still manages to provide a very genuine peek into a culture and a land unlike any other in the world. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. All the cliches are therethey come out at night mostly. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. These monsters are said to roam the cities, swamps, and scary places of Louisiana in search of their next victims, and its to your benefit to stay educated if you want any hope of survival. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. The jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! 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. 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. And speaking of scaring Catholics, one French Catholic myth claims that in order for someone to turn into a Rougarou, they must break Lent seven years in a row. 9 REAL Sightings of the Rougarou | Darkness Prevails Darkness Prevails 631K subscribers Subscribe 4.7K 136K views 3 years ago It's like a real life werewolf, but worse. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. The seminary student continued to stand still to observe further when the creature started to pace back in fourth just out of sight, beyond the tree line, all why still producing the strange whimpers. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! One recent supposed sighting came from a woman in Harvey, Louisiana, who claimed she saw a Grunch eating one of her neighbor's dogs. The sounds stopped just before it would have broke the tree line and became visible. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. Im not making this up. Were not afraid. 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. 51. 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. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. A close friend of the family who was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, she lived down the street from my dad. 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. 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. 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. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. The basic tale of Rougarou is one of a half man, half wolf that prowls the Louisiana swamps, looking for Catholics that have broken Lent or broken Catholic rules in other ways. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! A large dark figure on two legs crossed the road. I want more! It now craves human flesh and overturns small boats to devour and feast! He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. Proud foodie. For Foret and many other Cajun residents in the area, the real possibility that climate change will eventually force them from their homes is particularly upsetting. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." If you'vegot a questionabout something Louisiana-centric, ask us. We love meat too, but come on. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. It throws its head back, letting out a blood-curdling howl to the moon. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. Who knows what it is? 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. Required fields are marked *. Required fields are marked *. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. 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! The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. Thats no werewolf, though. No matter how you spell it, the Rougarou, Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, Rugaru, or Loup Garou is a werewolf type creature living in the folklore of Cajun French Louisiana. A woman named Barbara Mullins discovered a supposedly unidentifiable carcass on the side of the road in 1996. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. Your email address will not be published. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! Back in the 16th century, theyd regularly blame various crimes on loup-garous. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? This is why I always read terms and conditions. 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 three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. 4. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. There are multiple categories you can enter, including ones for kids and pets. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Even the act of self-defense could be life-altering. The New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana's NBA team, were formerly known as the Hornets. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. An illegal moonshine distilling business once drove much of the area's economy, but competition could be shot down without any repercussions, according to the article. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. For decades, the equivalent of one football field of coastline was lost per hour; while the rate has slowed, the regions long-term prognosis remains grim. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Wow, thank you for that insight! These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. They are a defining characteristic of Louisiana culture and make the state a truly unique place to live. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Foret is now director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit that educates students, in the classroom and on field trips, about the challenges of sea level rise, climate change, and living in a coastal communityone still recovering from 2021s Hurricane Ida. And then I realized that is what I saw! The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. These loup-garous became a fear for many people in the country, leading to them earning their place in legends passed down to children.