A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. A woman reports that several nights before the actual sighting there was something rummaging around underneath ther house. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. 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. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. Have you been told a different story about the Rougarou? Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 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! Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. That festival is cool because it links folklore to current issues and things that people need to be aware of, Rabalais says. After Ford's death, a grainy film reel was found in his attic that shows a large and hairy figure shuffling upright between the trees. The story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now Louisiana. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. The friend forgot her purse in the car. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. The officer that reported this sighting stated he and his partner did not discuss this much past that 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. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. The Rougarou is also thought to be nothing more than a bogeyman story to scare children or Catholics into obedience. He checked out the deer kept driving and turned around at the lake headed back towards Hwy. Where can you find a Rougarou? People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. There are quite a few roads that are known to be haunted or spirited in Louisiana, but none is quite as infamous as Bayou Sale Road, a long curvy road that connects Dulac, LA to Cocodrie, LA. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. I'm considering creating a documentary on the legend of the Rougarou when I get some more free time in the future. Like the childhood game of telephone, the story morphs over the years as it gets passed down from generation to generation. In the same story from The Nicholls Worth, the author, Brandon Folse, heavily quotes Patricia Perrin, a retired English instructor and folklore specialist. 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. The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster - YouTube The Sinister Story Behind This Popular Louisiana Swamp Will Give You The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Their friendly, but often sinister, nature makes these Cajun fairies some of the most dangerous Louisiana monsters. Such monster makeovers are common. 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. Other more out there schools of thought would suggest that these creatures or of a different origin, Alien, Spirit, even faerie. Generations of children have heard the scary. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. Loup-garou. 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 short answer is oral tradition. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The Rougarou at Cedar Point is one example of many as to how popular the folklore surrounding the beast truly is. The Most Haunted Louisiana Road: Bayou Sale Road According to Breaux, as Hubert retold the story, he began clenching his teeth and breathing rapidly as if he were reliving a terrifying experience. All rights reserved. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! 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 jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! The plantation's most popular (and yet to be debunked) encounter is the apparition of a young . 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. For instance, instead of labourer, meaning to plow, sometimes youll hear Cajuns say rabourer. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. The man dropped his gun and ran. At this point, you are probably wondering just how the legend began. 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. Mysterious Swamp Monsters of Louisiana Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. Only you can prevent forest fires, and so only you can save Louisianas wetlands.. The Legends Of The Rougarou In Louisiana May Send Chills Down Your Spine Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. People claim he leaves behind webbed footprints (presumably to navigate the swamps effectively) and mutilates wild boars. He might even be neighbors with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisianas bigfoot of the swamp.. Another Louisiana swamp creature that seems rooted in lore is none other than the Rougarou, which is basically a Cajun version of the werewolf. As the name implies, it pays homage to the legendary beast. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. 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. Most Christians believe any spirit that is not a holy one is a demonic spirit. . A cattle bridge that crossed the Yellow Water River was mentioned as a landmark in the report. 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." 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. Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp. Standing on two legs on top of a fallen, moss-covered tree is a large, snarling beast. It will begin to recount the pennies, continuously perplexed as it encounters the number 13, until sunrise. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. Crafty. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. Your email address will not be published. I came across a LObservateur article that ran around Halloween 2002, titled: Let the haunting good times roll. To my surprise I got text response saying Im outside in my backyard if you want to come over, its not much of a story. I remember it was a brief encounter and not many details but my objective was to write down what he remembered from his perspective, rather than a second-hand accounting from my childhood perspective. 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. It has the face of a canine with many sharp, frightening teeth. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. Too afraid to move, he watched as a figure about 8 feet tall and hairy from head to toe passed slowly below him, eventually disappearing further into the woods. 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. Before we get too far into an explanation let's first say it correctly, the proper pronunciation is, "Roo-Ga-Roo.". In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. 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. 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 commuter stated Unlike the sloth, it was man-like. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report #514. Full report can be found on bfro.net Report # 56107. Over the years there have been many different stories about this mythical creature in Louisiana, a common occurrence with oral traditions like this one. The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans has an exhibit dedicated to the Rougarou, which includes a statue of the creature itself. There was also a story that was told to kids that if they didnt do what their parents asked, a loup-garou would come and steal them away in the middle of the night. The Legends Of This Mythical Creature In Louisiana Are Terrifying Despite your personal beliefs in the supernatural, these legends abound and continue to be told in the cajun lands to this day. The rougarou, the Cajun cryptid said to haunt Louisiana's wetlands, is the mascot of a conservation effort for its traditional habitat. The article contained a short anecdotal account of an unnamed Laplace man that in 1983 saw something correlates with what Mr. Nameless saw. He told me it made no since for someone to be crossing the road at that point. I tend to lean more on the flesh and blood theory but I think it is important to keep all possibilities in play. She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. Legend of the Rougarou, a Louisiana werewolf - The Daily Advertiser

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