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The officer that submitted this report has over 40 years in military and law enforcement, a degree in Anthropology, and self educated in Darwinism, math and quantum physics. "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. For centuries, if you didnt follow Catholic traditions, such as observing Lent, or if you hunted on holy days, the rougarou would get you. The Rougarou has a varied history, though all variations seem to trace it back to the French. For the sake of anonymity this family friend will remain nameless, so I will refer to him as Mr. Nameless. The short answer is oral tradition. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. 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. The Rougarou: Louisiana's Cajun Werewolf | Deborah Hatswell BBR Being 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 Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. But as with all great monsters, certifiable proof has been elusive. It was a fall evening and this student was walking on a road in back of the property that borders cow pastures and piney woods. 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. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You However, according to other accounts, there is no escape from the curse. You interact with them, theyre dancing and theyre nice. Recently I saw a picture of a bear with severe mange which looked like how people describe werewolves and rougarous. Definitely a loup-garou. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. 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. The boy saw the dog turn into a man, then ran home to tell his family. Upright Canine (Possible 'Rougarou') Encountered in Beauregard Parish Thank you! 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. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. Oh wow that sounds like an interested read, Bill! You have permission to edit this article. Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. The bright lights of the stars flicker in the murky licks of the waves near the towering, ominous Cypress trees. When the first drop of blood is drawn, the creature returns to human form and tells the attacker who it really is. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. . I heard sounds Ive never heard and smells Id never smelled but never spied anything. Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou | PeachTown For instance, there is a legend that says placing 13 pennies at entrances you wish to protect is the way to go. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". The brave friend dismissed what she saw for a moment and continued to search for the purse in the dark. 22. Don't Miss The Best Festival In Louisiana, The Rougarou Fest Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Generations of children have heard the scary. 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! Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. 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. A woman reports that several nights before the actual sighting there was something rummaging around underneath ther house. It ended up passing within 15 yards of Mr. Klibert. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. But you should 100% be on the lookout for alligators if you find yourself in the swamps at night. No one agrees what it looks like because they dont really have wolves in this part of our country, says Nathan J. Rabalais, author of Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana. Louisiana Werewolf: Rougarou of the Bayou - Exemplore What is the Rougarou? | Louisiana Swamp Base Often the story of the Rougarou has been used to instill fear in the hearts of Cajun children as a way to command obedience. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. The rougarou is like our Smokey the Bear, says Foret. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? It was getting late so I was heading back to my dad's house for the evening. I want more! 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. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? You can find information on the legend of Cauchemar in folklore from all around the world, and it even exists in the Deep South. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. Here's what health officials, restaurants say. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. Who knows what it is? Despite being a monster of legends, just like its cousin the werewolf, the Rougarou has its weakness. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a voodoo priestess. Its essentially a werewolf with a cajun spin on it. And then I realized that is what I saw! 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. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. When many of the French migrated to Canada and the southern United States, they took the legend of the loup-garou with them. Coming across this story made me reach out to Mr. Nameless to see if he would entertain the idea answering some questions about the experience he had in the early 90s. 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. 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. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. The source of storms and an (occasional) kidnapper, the massive ancient beast has inspired muscle cars and jet fighters. Wow, thank you for that insight! Many rumors haunt this road, also known as LA-57. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. Lover of writing, learning and teaching others about new things. 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. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! 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). A story in The Nicholls Worth, a local college paper, titled "Rougarou Remains Strong Figure in Cajun Folklore," recounts a story from a woman about an experience in her youth. Over the years there have been many different stories about this mythical creature in Louisiana, a common occurrence with oral traditions like this one. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Just Might Be Louisianas Biggest And Baddest Foodie Event, The Historic Restaurant In Louisiana Where You Can Still Experience The Old American South, Treat Yourself To A Homemade Ice Cream Cone At The Sweetport In Louisiana, This Train Restaurant In Louisiana Is The Most Enchanting Place To Eat, 7 Folktales, Legends, and Superstitions Every Louisianian Has Heard At Least Once, The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You Chills, The Story Behind This Legendary Swamp Monster In Louisiana Will Give You The Chills, 7 Creepy Louisiana Ghost Stories That Will Make You Sleep With The Lights On, Wanderluster/E+ Collection via Getty Images, Cavan Images/Cavan Collection via Getty Images, Troy Harrison/Moment Collection via Getty Images, 2ndLookGraphics/E+ Collection via Getty Images. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. It's got to be the Rougarou, the infamous werewolf of the bayou. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! The commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. 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. March 18th 2022 was the full moon or the Worm Moon and as I was driving down i49 something crossed the road it was almost like a creature I seen in Scooby-Doo doo it ran so fast across the highway on 2 feet and was so tall. What is a Rougarou, Exactly? - CryptoVille He was only about 100 yards away when it crossed so a person would not of had time to get far enough to disappear into the swamp. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. 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. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. The report suggests that these two encounters took place in roughly the same area. Is there a Louisiana werewolf?