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. However, due to its incredibly poor math skills, the beast can only count to 12. Over the decades, numerous people have talked of an ape-like creature or creatures living in swamps. 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. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! Get more stories delivered right to your email. 4 Unique Tales of the Rougarou from Southern Louisiana - OnlyInYourState She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." We cant make this stuff up. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. Rougarou Fest | Houma, Louisiana See. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. That's how I knew it wasnt a bear, another witness reported. 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. Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - Paranormal Outlaw These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? Louisiana native. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! I suppose anything is possible, and while the Bigfoot sighting phenomena originated in the Pacific Northwest, it seems more than plausible that such a creature could exist here. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. However embracing legends, customs and tradition is the very foundation of culture. 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. 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. There are many people in Louisiana who practice magic and wish curses upon us. 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. No, you dont become a Rougarou from a bite or scratch, or from losing a bet. 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. Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. Audobon's website also has Rougarou t-shirts for sale. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. Bobby Brettel grew up in New Orleans, nearly 40 miles away from the moss-tangled bayous of eastern St. Tammany Parish's Honey Island Swamp. A quick browse and youll find many pictures of the Rougarou. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. Was there really a monster in the swamps? The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that night. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. 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. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Makes that morning commute not seem so bad, right? I need to do some more research on those spirits! What is a Rougarou, Exactly? - CryptoVille 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. This suggests an explanation for the abundance of stories from locals about seeing a Rougarou for themselves. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Country's answer to Bigfoot. The Legends Of This Mythical Creature In Louisiana Are Terrifying Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". 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 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. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. At this point, the beast is forced to retreat as its human form begins to resurface. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Local stories say the Rougarou roams the streets at night, antagonizing people to attack it. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. How did one Louisiana town's name get a bizarre pronunciation? It is known as the most haunted road in the entire state. Frequently referred to as beast in the story, the part-man, part-animal with piercing yellow eyes has appeared in several anecdotes by self-styled witnesses since the 1960s. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. Tell your version of this mythical creature in Louisiana in the comments below! Stories on its origin vary, but some say its a spirit while others claim its a child that was raised by alligators. 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. 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. In Assumption Parish it is common place for house to be built substantially off the ground to withstand inevitable flood waters. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. A simple yet effective trick to protect oneself from the beast. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. Their full transformation into their Rougarou form would be completed once they had their first bite of human flesh. 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. 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. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. The article reported the murder of a man killed because his whiskey was too good and too profitable. 22. 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. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. It stands upright on two legs, and is covered in hair. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported over the years, making it one of the most haunted landmarks in the USA. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. Legend of the Rougarou: Louisiana's Werewolf He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. The court would ask the public if they believed the accused to be a loup-garou, and usually the public agreed (mainly for fear that theyd be outed as a witch or a loup-garou themselves). The Rougarou of the Bayou Louisiana is a fascinating place whose history is rich with legends from long ago. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. 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 creature is only vaguely seen in the film with a head resembling a bear. Ready for the creatures that will haunt you in your sleep? On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. 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. 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. Talk of the monster, of course, is also a staple of some of the swamp tours operating in the area. If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Stories of the rougarou in Louisiana derive largely from 16th-century French legends of a beast called loup garou, essentially a werewolf. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. Im not making this up. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Turns out voodoo is still in. Personally, Id never hear about something terrible and say, Yep, thats definitely the work of a werewolf. Thats no werewolf, though. Before we get too far into an explanation let's first say it correctly, the proper pronunciation is, "Roo-Ga-Roo.". The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it.