The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. In others, they are demonic forces that play tricks and lead you to your demise in the swamps. Both the officer and his partner got a good look at the creature when it passed under the streetlight. 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. Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. The friend described a chilling encounter one warm morning. The beast is also a hit in pop culture here in Louisiana. I realized that parts of our folklore and our oral traditions were getting lost, he says. Sorcery is everywhere, and after repeated viewings of Hocus Pocus, we know what were dealing with. Louisiana is a lovely place to visit. The student claimed it was the exact same sounds they heard during their encounter. The unfortunate person is under the spell for 101 days. He slowed down when he saw it because he got the impression that this was not a man. There are also stories of an enormous monster that also shares the bayou with the Rougarou and that is the Honey Island Swamp Monster, which is also known as Louisiana's "bigfoot of the swamp." 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 . In this version, the Rougarou would live life as a normal person until some event occurred that triggered their condition. Remnants of history freckle the map, whether its old and potentially haunted buildings, abandoned theme parks or even museums with some very strange collections. A large dark figure on two legs crossed the road. 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. Childrens authors have started using alligators as characters. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. 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. Have you ever heard of the Rougarou or another scary Louisiana monster before? Out of the shaking bush came a large hairy arm, grabbed a handful of leaves then went back in. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. 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." 22. I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. "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. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. This is why I always read terms and conditions. Whether the Rougarou is truly a cryptid stalking the streets at night just waiting to pass its curse on to the next unfortunate soul, or whether it is merely a tool used to scare Catholics into keeping Lent, it is clear that the Rougarou has left its mark on Southern Louisiana. 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. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? While most likely these stories are cautionary tales meant to keep kids from wandering into dangerous situations, it does make you think! Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. The Rougarou will see the 13 objects, try to count them, and be unable to count them all. 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. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Near Avenue A around 9pm, He arrived at the scene and spoke to the lady that called it in. Required fields are marked *. 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 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. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. The Rougarou Supernatural Cameo Explained, Legend of the Rougarou: The Complete Loup-garou Guide. The creature is described as half-man, half-dog. Wow, this is most definitely going to be my art project gonna be difficult but I'll get it done. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. Was there really a monster in the swamps? Generations of youngsters have heard the scary tales. 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. Since the dawn of time, people have been telling stories. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house. Rougarou Sightings According to a lady from Louisiana, a local child was being chased by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. Heed our warning and be on the look out for cajun folklore monsters when youre roaming the wildest parts of the bayou state. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. Southeast Louisiana Bigfoot Sightings. 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. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. one football field of coastline was lost per hour. For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website, and don't forget to give them a follow on Facebook so you don't miss out on any announcements. 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. Could these sightings be and unknown species of hominid living for the most part, undetected in the southeast Louisiana wilderness? We know what you are probably thinking. 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. The Same LObservateur article that mentioned the Laplace mans sighting near Ruddock in 1983, also makes mention of another Laplace man that had a strange encounter on top of the levee near Bayou Steel. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. Loup is French for Wolf, and Garou refers to a man that transforms into an animal. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! Described as looking like a sloth, the creature was covered in a light grey hair, had a small round head and a brown nose. The story was born in France in medieval times, when they actually believed in werewolves. Required fields are marked *. According to folklore, a Rougarou is a human that has been placed under a spell. The monster has its own Wikipedia pageand has been the source of numerous news stories and documentaries. 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. 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. The creature continued on as it reached a woody marsh area near a canal then disappeared. Be careful, because Louisiana monsters are all over! I used to have nightmares including the Rougarou as a kid and seeing this is crazy that its something based on my home state. If youre familiar with Louisianas history, you know voodoo is part of it. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana. According to reports, this Louisiana monster looks human, except for his sharp teeth, goat legs, and many abnormalities. He hides in tall grass near Grunch Road in New Orleans, LA, waiting to prey on teens who park there. As outlandish as that sounds some of the very details in this essay support that. She says a local boy was being followed by a dog when he decided to cut it with his pocketknife. We all have a notion that this world is a lot stranger than it seems on a surface level. But first, lets dive into some of its histories. In closing Ive always considered Yeti to be more of a possibility than a werewolf. troy landrey talked about it on swamp people. 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. Once the human is cursed, it is permanent. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. The creature is only vaguely seen in the film with a head resembling a bear. 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. In fact, instead of wolfish features, most Cajuns will describe the rougarou as resembling a dog or owl. This legendary creature of Cajun folklore is often depicted in literature and images as a man with a wolfs or dogs head. Past participants have described the festival as fun, and until COVID it had managed to attract a decent crowd each year. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. The jury is still out on this one, because people cant seem to figure out exactly what the Lutin isand theres good reason! The Giants body appeared to be covered with reddish hair. Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. "I heard the story from veteran hunters. Outside of Louisiana, the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio has a rollercoaster named Rougarou. 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. 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. Stumbling upon the LObservateur article reignited my borderline obsessive interest in these types of creature sightings. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. 9 Scariest Louisiana Monsters from Folklore, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Rougarou, Legendary Monsters of Louisiana: Cauchemar, Best Resistance Bands for Home Workouts in 2021. 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. Wow, thank you for that insight! We can only hope Ruston, LA never decides to build a Grunch Road. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. And then I realized that is what I saw! Once the girl was halfway to the vehicle she noticed her friend was still standing at the front door of the house. Can you really only eat oysters in 'r' months? "The swamp is often seen as a dangerous place, with dangerous animals and everything . 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. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. Their body would then undergo a transformation, and they would develop a craving for meat. 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. 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HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Crafty. Even today he refuses to let anyone see it.". People say, behind the disguises, theyre really the spirits of babies who died before baptism. The cryptid, usually described as a towering, hairy monster, is allegedly a human cursed to take beastly form. According to some other accounts, the process of transferring the curse involves the willingly human drawing the blood of the Rougarou. Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. 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. The legend of the Rougaou goes back hundreds of years, originating in France. 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. But as someone who lives in Louisiana and knows many Catholics who break Lent, I'm not so sure about this myth's validity. 7910 park ave houma, la (985) 580-7289 . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. I grew up that way and you would hear about strange things.. The article does not specify if this happened in the same area that he and his friend found the large footprints. Lurking in the woods and wetlands of southern Louisiana, according to Cajun legend, theres a ferocious monster that attacks the wayward and the wanderer. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who dont follow the rules of Lent, which is similar to the telling of the old French stories. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. Were not afraid. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Last but not least, the pinnacle of mythology in the bayou state and kingpin of all Louisiana monsters the Rougarou. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. 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.. There she saw standing next to a tree 25 feet away a creature that she described as being extremely tall and white. After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. 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. . Jerry Major's Curious Louisiana question is more than an inquiry about a pronunciation. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. This sighting took place just north of the Manchac Swamp region, about a quarter mile away from Hwy. Children can see and hear everything that happens, but they are unable to move. Louisiana has a Nightmare on Bourbon Street situation going on that some arent aware of. Registration begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, and the contest begins at 4 p.m. Your email address will not be published. 1983 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. He has the body of a man, head of a werewolf, and sharp teeth that can seamlessly tear through flesh. 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 cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@theadvocate.com. 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. It had a face like a man and the body of an animal, said Herman Broom. 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). [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. 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 story of the Rougarou supposedly changed once French immigrantsor possibly also French-Canadian immigrantscame to live in the area that is now 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. The mud was too sloppy to retain any prints. In a new subdivision that was still being developed named Sheryls Meadows, a 12 year old riding their mini-bike along with their cousin saw a lumbering creature approximately 500 yards away. It was late in the evening when Mr. Nameless flagged me down. 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. 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.