I dont remember verbatim what he told me that day but the gist of that conversation has stuck in my psyche with clarity for nearly 30 years. Its a hybrid mixture of escaped circus chimpanzees and alligators which now live in the swamps of St. Tammany Parish. I am using it as research for a short story that I am wtiting. They had no clue to what creature could make such a sound. Where are you from? Kliebert got no response. A 9ft tall man with a black beard and what appeared to be a cloak of brown fur hanging from his neck by a rope. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! I want more! This particular evening something strange caught the seminary students ear. 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. When they were choosing the new name, one of the trademarks filed for was the name the New Orleans Rougarou. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. Rougarou. This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. mystery of Marie Laveau, Louisianas Voodoo Queen, Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure, History of the Louisiana Snowball and Its Flavors, Heres Where You Can Get Income-Based Assistance in Louisiana. 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! The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is essentially Louisiana's bayou-dwelling werewolf, and it's a prominent figure in Cajun folklore. Watch Live . I had been riding my bike through the trails in the woods that were in the back of Laplace Park. Kezia Kamenetz is a native to southern Louisiana and lives in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans currently. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. I need to do some more research on those spirits! Get more stories delivered right to your email. Some months prior to this her entire family told her they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs, followed by a gurgling noise coming from the woods. A few seconds passes and she started to feel a fear building inside. There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. But first, lets dive into some of its histories. Origins of the Rougarou lie in 16th Century medieval French Folklore. After the initial sighting by the husband, the wife reported that a neighbor came by in an adjatated state. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. 1989 St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. Proud foodie. A recent novel called The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. 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. And above all else, remember thisdont go into the swamps alone! The friend forgot her purse in the car. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. The cousins decided to turn around and go back the direction they came to avoid a close encounter with this unknown, imposing, bipedal creature. They appear as fluorescent balls of light which loom over the marshlands of Louisiana. The Rougarou is an important figure in Cajun legends. Love Louisiana? Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. Cauchemar actually means nightmare in Louisiana French and Creole. DATE. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! The brave friend stated that something in her mind told her to look ahead. rougarou sightings in louisiana. As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. [7] After the officers spoke to the complainant they decided to do a search of the perimeter. There wasnt much to his story, but the seriousness of his delivery, and the apparent reluctance to tell me, gave his words credence. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com. That gator is looking pretty good right now, huh? Their curse usually comes from a local witch, sometimes a Voodoo priestess. Rougarou Caught on Aerial Footage Breakdown The Paranormal Review, Barbeque, and the Outdoors! The seminary student stood still, they got the impression that the source of the noise was moving along a path in the woods and getting closer. Whereas the loup-garou in France roamed the forest looking for children, the rougarou of Southern Louisiana lurks about the Bayou looking for prey. The sounds grew faint as the creature traveled deeper into the woods until they faded completely. Case closed. This was one interesting problem that they had to deal with centuries ago. 61 when they saw a creature pop up out from the bank of the canal that parallels Airline. There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore. Years later the seminary student was watching a television program about Bigfoot and they played audio of a suspected Sasquatch. They described it as a cross between a whimpering dog and human crying. DATE. A year later the boy killed himself and left a letter that the family turned over to the sheriff. 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. After that point, her spell was lifted. All rights reserved. "I think it's fascinating,'' said Brettel. Once turned around, the cousin looked back and observed the creature now walking in the middle of the road and at a quicker pace toward the children. Theres a howl in the near distance. Usually theyd find someone in the woods or someone in the village who was just acting strange.. What tales of the Rougarou did you grow up with? People who didnt have a lot of physical or social power in society found a way to survive through being clever., Even Louisianas infamous and very real alligators have undergone a rebranding. 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." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have successfully subscribed to the PeachTown newsletter. This beast first sighted in 1963 is reminiscent of the popular DC character known as Swamp Thing. Nope, not The GrinchThe Grunch. Belief in the monster was so strong that many civilians were accused . Children are told by their elders to behave or else the Rougarou will get 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. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. The French actually have a similar story of the Loup-garou. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! Even if I didnt believe his story, I believe his demeanor when recounting it. There were no apparent wounds or blood, but the fresh carcass looked like it had been battered and crushed. If you decide to attend the festival or find yourself around the swamps, make sure to remember the tricks and tactics we covered in this article. I was thinking the same. Glad the information was here. And speaking of scaring Catholics, one French Catholic myth claims that in order for someone to turn into a Rougarou, they must break Lent seven years in a row. 51. Their property backs up to a vast cypress swamp. The few folks that lay eyes on these creatures are simply catching an interloper just visiting. NOTE: Any use of witness information, which includes any attempt to contact a witness or persons involved in an event, is strictly prohibited without the written consent of Lon Strickler, 'Winged Cryptids: Humanoids, Monsters & Anomalous Creatures Casebook', Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid / Flying Entity Sightings & Encounters, Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research Team / Affiliates, Pennsylvania Upright Canine / Dogman Investigations, 'Crypto Four Corners International' Investigations - In Memory of JC Johnson. For decades, the equivalent of one football field of coastline was lost per hour; while the rate has slowed, the regions long-term prognosis remains grim. They look for blood donors who are willing to sell them blood, and yes, they drink it. In 2011, Foret launched Rougarou Fest in Houma, Terrebones parish seat and largest city, as both a fundraiser for the center and a way to revive the fading cryptid tradition. Again, he urged the boy to stay silent about their encounter, but the boy wasn't able to keep the secret. According to Native American legends, theres a creature in Terrebonne Parish that is the spirit of a child reincarnated as a beast. 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 life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. Legend says that the Rougarou will hunt these individuals down and suck their blood, feeding on their energy for up to 101 days. Louisiana native. Every year in October, there is a festival held in downtown Houma called the Rougarou Fest. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover One man hopes to turn the wolfish cryptid into a mascot for saving the state's imperiled wetlands. Discover Louisiana's legendary werewolf: the Rougarou. 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. Dont believe us? Today, theyre suave and sexy, thanks in part to pop culture hits such as Interview with the Vampire, Twilight, and True Blood. http://www.gcbro.com/LAassumption03-12-2016.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html, http://www.gcbro.com/LAsttammany0004.html. The hybrid whimpering could still be heard, and was clear and near, but still no visible sign of what was producing these sounds. Trey Iles Baton Rouge. The two young women decided they would go to the car together. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. She describes the Rougarou as "an important identification marker for South Louisiana's culture." Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence in local culture and beyond. These canine-humanoid shapeshifters travel between worlds using magical doors. Cauchemar is a monster that leaps out of childrens dreams and rides their backs. On the last Saturday in October in the city of Houma, Rougarou Fest is held. In this article, were going to highlight the top 9 Louisiana monsters from folklore and legends. Since Cajun dialect is a mix of French and English and well-known for changing words completely to roll off the tongue easier, the name of the beast changed from loup-garou to Rougarou (also spelled roux-ga-roux, rugaroo, or rugaru). The villagers would capture people they believed to be a loup-garou and then hold a public trial. The neighbor then said he saw an 8 foot tall creature standing on two legs. Dec. 20, 2016 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has confirmed photographic evidence of a cougar sighting in northeast Louisiana on Nov. 23.An LDWF biologist conducted a site investigation that confirmed the authenticity of a trail camera picture submitted to the department. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. all proceeds from rougarou fest go to the south louisiana wetlands discovery center click here to learn more. Mr. Nameless admitted that he did not want to slow down to get a good look. 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 brave friend dismissed what she saw for a moment and continued to search for the purse in the dark. Massive Wolf-Like Creature Encountered by 2 Friend 1919 BEK (Black Eyed Kids) Incident in Sandoval, I 9 Ft. Outside of the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster, there were not many stories that I found in my preliminary search. The Cajuns (also known as Acadians) are an ethnic group that makes up a significant portion of south Louisianas population. At the annual October events rougarou costume contest, the fests mascot is reimagined hundreds of different ways, including as an eco-activist. 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. by Joel Balsam October 19, 2022. Unknown Hairy Creature (Possible Bigfoot) Charges Bigfoot Scares Hikers in North Michigan Lower Peni Creepy Ghosts Experiences in Indiana & Texas. 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. The creature in question was described by the officer as being an eight foot talk, bipedal hominid, dark hair (not fur), and massively build. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Great words, you could make a short story out of that Peason Ridge setting! Massive Bigfoot Observed by Pennsylvania Hunter. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? Thats no werewolf, though. The officer reported that the creature crossed a 22 foot wide street in three strides. No purchase necessary. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Rougarou custom jerseys on sale now! One of the most compelling reports occurred in Marrero, LA circa 1970. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. rougarou sightings in louisianasvetlana invitational 2022 Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. However, many people also believe it's just a dog. The Rougarou turned back into a man, telling the boy that he had sold his soul to the devil and ended up a beast. The Rougarou ---- The Louisiana Swamp Monster 1,356 views Premiered Oct 31, 2020 58 Dislike Share Save The Traveling Gilberts 876 subscribers Subscribe The story of the Rougarou (the Louisiana. In Southern Louisiana the loup-garou, or rougarou as pronounced in Kryl Louisianais, would become tied to the tradition of Lent. 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. Apparently, when a person changes into a Rougarou they forget how to count past 12 (probably since they only worry about midnight and the moon at this point). Crafty. 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