A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? Where can you find a Rougarou? 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. Kezia Kamenetz is a native to southern Louisiana and lives in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans currently. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? [7] 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. 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 three adult men surveyed the area from the inside of the truck. Strange noise ? 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. Wow, thank you for that insight! At the time, it was called the loup-garou, and many crimes were blamed on the beast. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. It is said that you can protect yourself against the Rougarou by laying 13 small objects by your doors. 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. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. 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. Screaming 'Forest Ghoul' Seen in Montana Mountains. 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. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. She described it also as being tall and hairy and went on to further say that it was almost so white it was glowing. She also described the creature to be staring in her direction. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. Loup-garou. 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). 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. Stories of werewolves and hideous creatures from hell have their roots in human behaviors that are seen as beastly and satanic. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. Your email address will not be published. The student waited 5 more minutes to see if the sounds would return but the encounter was over. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. 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. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. This continued for 15 minutes until the sound started to travel away. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. According to Cajun folklore, the monster is said to inhabit the swamps and sugar cane fields around the Acadiana and Greater New Orleans regions. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. 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. Its incredible that I actually witnessed one and I do believe thats the only thing it couldve been. Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? Some legends of the beast say it can only be killed by fire, others say it can be killed while its in its vulnerable human form. I got more specific with my search terms and soon stumbled upon something that reignited the idea of a creature like Bigfoot existing in our parts. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? You'll receive your first newsletter soon! As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. There is also a Native American story of the "Rugaru." You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 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. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. The only way to arrive at the truth is to keep your mind open to weirdness. As the dying man takes his last breath, he has to remind his killer not to mention the incident to anyone--or else they will end up with the same fate, turned into the Rougarou. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. 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. Rougarou. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. It was still very much daylight when this happened but the only detail he could make out was that the creature was upright and a bipedal hominid, dark in color. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. 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 Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. There has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. The Rougarou has also been tied to the story of the Deridder Roadkill. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. Some have claimed it to be the body of a Rougarou, though others have speculated it might be a Chupacabra or Devil Monkey. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 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. According to these legends, the Rougarou when it comes across the pennies will begin to count them. The Louisiana werewolf is the rougarou of the bayoua very similar-looking creature. 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. 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. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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. 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. 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. 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. 1990-1992 (early 90s) St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. 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. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. These Louisiana monsters claim they feel lethargic and drained if they dont get the proper serving size of blood in on the regular. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democratic, scientific, social justice, and religious issues, etc. 22.4K subscribers 36K views 6 years ago #bigfoot #paranormal Make sure you check out this video!. Thank you! The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. 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. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. Immense fear or indifference could be contributed to psychic phenomena that are sometimes reported with these types of sightings. And, if you know anything about sleep paralysis, you may have seen the culprit himself! Rougarou custom jerseys on sale now! Again, he urged the boy to stay silent about their encounter, but the boy wasn't able to keep the secret. Thats what we in Louisiana call the Rougarou, cher. 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. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. 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. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! 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. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Rougarou. 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. Beasts called loup-garous, which means werewolves in French, were also infamous throughout the country. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! Long, thin arm attached to a 6 to 7 foot frame. Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. Its too late to turn back! I remember when the physician shot himself here in Lockport. Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get them. Screaming Bigfoot Shot by Hunter in Central Indian 8 Ft 'Upright Canine' Pair Observed on Beauregard Was it 'Mothman?' It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. It was near 2am and both parties were hesitant to walk to the car to retrieve the purse. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I found a report from Civil War veteran Fredrick Kliebert who was walking home from a squirrel hunt when he saw what he described as a giant. The next day the man found the two Dobermans decapitated. 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. Thats no werewolf, though. Buy Tickets. People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. A Police officer and his partner, responding to a neighborhood prowler call. Whereas the loup-garou in France roamed the forest looking for children, the rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey. Logic would dictate that any such creature living in southeast Louisiana would appear thinner in both frame and hair because of the climate and wet conditions. The next day Mr. Nameless, his older brother, and a mutual friend went ride back out to Peavine. The creature stood upright on two legs. I believe that people are seeing these poor mangy bears instead of werewolves. 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! Theyre not trying to eat you, Ancelet says. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Buy Tickets . It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. The concepts surrounding the Rougarous supernatural abilities link it closely with traditional concepts of the mythical werewolf. All rights reserved. Eventually he began disappearing at night--eventually turning fully into the Rougarou, never to be seen in the same form again. 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. 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. When faced with a supernatural beast that has superhuman strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth, chances are you wouldnt be feeling very lucky. 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. Proud foodie. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. Watch Live . Even the act of self-defense could be life-altering. A close friend of the family who was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, she lived down the street from my dad. This special character in Cajun folklore got his name from a version of the French word for werewolf, loupgarou. Did your house get ransacked during the night? 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. Also known as Cajun fairies, these creatures can be either good or bad depending on the circumstances. In the swamps within the Greater New Orleans area and the Acadiana is where this beast has come to live. 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