The dark figure crossed the road from the passenger side to the driver side, so it was traveling due south when it crossed the road. This creature, also called Loup garou, is so popular it was depicted on the hit television series Supernatural. Where can you find a Rougarou? All rights reserved. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. 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. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. 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. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. The rougarou once served to scare adults into being good Catholics, and children into staying home after dark, Rabalais says, adding, Now there are other things to be scared of, like rising water levels and hurricanes.. 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 student waited 5 more minutes to see if the sounds would return but the encounter was over. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. Its fingernails are grisly claws. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. This is similar to that of a traditional werewolf, however, unlike a werewolf, the Rougarou during the day appears weak, sickly, and vulnerable. For the sake of anonymity this family friend will remain nameless, so I will refer to him as Mr. Nameless. Witches?Witch doctors! Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. Louisiana monsters have been the subject of controversy for years. 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 cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. Catholics are told it will hunt down and kill them if they don't obey Lent. Once the cousin jumped back on they yelled GO! They did not look back after that. 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. The commuter stated that the headlights of his car shined directly onto the creature so they got a pretty good look at it. Rougaroux Rum, manufactured by donner-peltier distillers in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has a special praline-flavored version called Rougaroux 13 Pennies. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. The man dropped his gun and ran. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. Your email address will not be published. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! I spent a couple summers in Sabine Parish out on North Fort Fort Polk on a tract of ground called Peason Ridge(Little Nam). The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. 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. About half way back to the railroad crossing, 100 yards up the road. The Bible tells us to test the spirit(s) to see if it (they) come from God. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. 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 Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide, US Ghost Adventures New Orleans Ghosts Review. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. Across French Louisiana, it is a very common legend, and most Louisiana natives are very familiar with at least the name, if nothing else. Its too late to turn back! The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Considering how many hunters love senselessly killing wild boars, we really cant blame the swamp monster. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Kliebert tried to communicate with the giant, asking who are you? A student attending St. Josephs seminary college had an experience that cannot be classified as a sighting, but rather and auditory experience. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. The creature ran two city blocks before absconding into the marsh. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. "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. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. The giant was walking westerly at a quick pace with a sorrowful but purposeful look. If you dont have the stomach to fight the beast, you can protect yourself through other means. One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. No purchase necessary. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. It sounds like a wolf, but somethings a little off. Lapin, the trickster rabbit rooted in African folklore traditions that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved people, has also seen a transformation. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 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. 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. Back in the thick, fog-covered swamplands is where youll find the true beauty of Louisiana and perhaps even a monster or twoincluding the legendary beast called the Rougarou. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. 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 has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. 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. Years later, as a middle school teacher, hed mention the beast to his students only to learn theyd never heard of it. Did your house get ransacked during the night? The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. Well written and well documented. 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. 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. It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. Out hunting for deer, Hubert was perched atop an oak tree when he heard heavy sounds approaching from the woods behind him. 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. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Also in Harvey, residents say they've seen it knocking over trashcans and chasing cats. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. The legend is believed to have originated from French Canadian immigrants in the late 1700's. There are hundreds of light . Stories of these cajun folklore spirits originated in French culture and made their way into Louisiana folklore over time. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. 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. Modern claims of Rougarou sightings are few and far between, however, unlike reports of something strange seen in the swamps of Honey Island. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. 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. 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. Its true! 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. A lover of tasty meat, he lurks in swamps and hunts down unsuspecting humans. It was getting late so I was heading back to my dads house for the evening. 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. Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. 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. Apparently that was a thing they did back then. 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. "Who. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. The seminary student had the urge to run back to the monastery to tell someone but a thought emerged NO. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. How did one Louisiana town's name get a bizarre pronunciation? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. Turns out voodoo is still in. For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Why do Bud's Broiler's burger prices conflict? I had almost forgot about it since no one answered phone when I wanted to tell someone what I just seen was so weird. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist.