A 1926 article in the New Orleans States juxtaposes scenes of the wild honeysuckle and vibrant Southern foliage of the area against bushes used as hiding spots for murderers to ambush victims. Deep in the rural wooded swamp of Livingston Parish and young girl was having a friend of hers spend the night. No purchase necessary. Strange noise ? 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. What he described to me, in my mind was a Bigfoot sighing. [10] [11] Boxer Regis Prograis (of Creole descent) goes by the nickname Rougarou. He sees it as an example of the way cryptids evolve alongside the cultures that created them. To kill some time before his date, Mr. Nameless decided to take an evening cruise down Peavine Road to the lake. Hi, I live in Terrebonne Parish near swampy land that was formerly called Devils Swamp. The 12 year old that was operating the mini-bike accelerated so hard that thier cousin fell off the back. A 1981 report bywriter Jerry Breaux pulled from The Advocate archives recalls a conversation the writer had with his long-time friend, Hubert. The line on the trees in this picture taken Nov. 16, 2017, shows the swamp's typical high-water mark, which generally arrives in the spring. USA Today ranked the Rougarou Fest as one of the top 10 costume parties in the country, and you can join in the fun and compete in the contest. Back in the day of armor, swords and jousting, there was a lot more to fear than the plague and witches. Remnants of history freckle the map, whether its old and potentially haunted buildings, abandoned theme parks or even museums with some very strange collections. This was a deep dense pine forest with rolling Knolls and the occasion small marsh(bayou). The Rougarou, or as others may say, Loup garou, is a bayou-dwelling werewolf. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. In some cases, they are your loved ones coming to greet you and bring good fortune. 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. Had me captured. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. This version varies from being a Bigfoot legend to resembling something more like a wendigo. In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. If this witness tells anyone about this encounter within a year and a day, they will become a Rougarou themselves. A human would have a substantial amount of trouble walking through the terrain. Required fields are marked *. Not in the Pacific Northwest, but right there in Laplace! It now craves human flesh and overturns small boats to devour and feast! In these times, many crimes were blamed on the beast, ranging from theft to kidnapping of children. The curse is transferred when it draws another human's blood. Get more stories delivered right to your email. More than a millennium ago, vampires were demonic vectors of disease, possibly reflecting the very real threat of rabies. The Rougarou, Beast of the Louisiana Bayou, Gets a Makeover. About four weeks ago, PB and his 5-year-old daughter were walking along their long dirt driveway that leads to their home. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Rougarou life involves shapeshifting into its beast form every night, then being forced to transform back into a human at sunrise. When the child saw the dog transform into a man, he dashed home to tell his family. Other more out there schools of thought would suggest that these creatures or of a different origin, Alien, Spirit, even faerie. 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. Mr. Nameless wasnt sure what he saw, but I was convinced. Feel free to email me at jsutherlin@onlyinyourstate.com. Its rumored that Lutins can take any form, including cats (especially white ones), hobgoblins, elves, and other strange creatures. 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. How safe are you from this magnificent monster? Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The two children ran the entire way home, about of a mile. Dont believe us? Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! It was eventually through the Cajun French that the name Rougarou came to be. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this region; cities, towns, and neighborhoods tend to arise on the dry patches of earth that are surrounded by vast, thick, primordial swamp. 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. But now, the story of the once-terrifying rougarou is changing, along with the coastal wetlands it has long called home. Other variations say a Rougarou can turn their victims merely by making eye contact. Ruston doesnt have a swamp, but if it did. During this time, however, the Rougarou was called Loup-garou. Theres a lot of blue tarps still on roofs everywhere, says Foret. 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. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Country's answer to Bigfoot. Some Louisiana monsters are walking around in plain sight! Sam and Dean had a struggle with this one. Can you really only eat oysters in 'r' months? Werewolves have transformed, too, and not just into the Teen Wolf tv show and movie. Curious Louisianaconnects readers with our newsroom's reporting. Full report can be found at http://www.gcbro.com/LAlivingston0001.html. Lover of all things comedy, photography, and travel related. 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 has been some dispute about whether or not this myth is actually related to the French Louisiana Rougarou legends. 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. Since the migration, many of the legends began to change to match the times and the dialect. 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. There are multiple categories you can enter, including ones for kids and pets. Terrebonne Parish resident Jonathan Foret was a type of kids. If you werent already aware, New Orleans has a prominent vampire subculture. As the rougarou lunges forward he defends himself and cuts its arm, thus releasing the curse from that person and putting it onto [himself].. Kliebert was stunned when he saw this giant approaching him. 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. I need to do some more research on those spirits! Theres a howl in the near distance. Just hope this Louisiana monster doesnt get hold of you. Two dead squirrels and a dead rabbit were found under the house where the creature had been rummaging. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. One of the most popular stories that gets passed down from generation to generation is the legend of the Rougarou, Cajun Countrys answer to Bigfoot. 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. 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. For instance, in 2015, the floorless roller coaster Mantis was renamed Rougarou. The New Orleans Pelicans had originally thought about changing their names from the Hornets to the Rougarous at one point! A version from the 16th century paints it as being seen as something similar to a genetic disorder, rather than the curse most other versions of the myth portray the Rougarou as being. The cousins were ridding toward the creature when they spotted it walking on side of the road in their direction. The different versions of the Rougarou beast are as many as reported sightings of the beast. For those of you who haven't heard th. The sound of human cries in the woods is a theme directly from faire lore. I was thinking the same. Local sanitation workers have supposedly reported seeing them raiding garbage cans or chasing trucks. When French settlers came to Louisiana, the story came with them. The story of the Letieche is Louisianas Jungle Book. Perrin's statement is quite obviously true due to the Rougarou's clear influence on local culture and beyond. Discover the secrets of Louisiana lifestyle and explore Ruston, home of the Peach Festival. [12] This will perplex it, and it will keep recounting until the sun comes up and it must flee. The Rougarou is a legendary creature that is often depicted on shirts, cups, and other forms of merchandise. Is one of these crafty cryptids on display in a small museum? If you thought voodoo was a thing of the past, think again! 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. I want more! The trickster figure really went from being the bad guy, the one to watch out for, to being a hero, says Rabalais, adding that the shift reflected the reality of the people who told and retold the stories. 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. Aside from snakes and alligators, there are lots of predators and other scary things living there. Some even suggest a mix of biological and fringe. Perhaps this giant was not a fan of small talk, and from the direction of travel I suspect the giant was heading home to Chackbay. In a 2008 Fox News special,people claimed they'd seen the beast. He told me how past the railroad track, near the lake they had some deer in a fenced in area. Nothing is going to hurt me. The student also stated that he did not want to alarm the creature by running off. Cajun legend says that the beast hunts down Catholics who don't follow the rules of Lent. Bog Monster of Louisiana T-Shirt (Impractical Jokers). Sometimes I mix all of these subjects together. There are documentaries about this you can easily find on YouTube. She finally located the purse she grabbed it and quickly ran inside the house.