The True Curse Of Loup Garou
Some liken it to a formless beast that preys upon the living. Others simply know it as the true Loup Garou!
By Lisa Lee Harp Waugh
A tale my momma often told me was that great pirate king Jean Lafite controlled a great pack of vicious black dogs that were part wolf and part man. She would go on to say that these devil loup garou beast had the powers to change shape at will. She would tell me that they loved to eat young girls and boys devouring their private pars first or soft belly on the beach in Galveston Island, and that I should never trek there ever at night with a boy or friends. Though this might have been her own way of keeping me from taking the long trip from Marshall, Texas to Galveston Island for a weekend as many other in town would do in the late 1970- 80's summer season.
The man monster of the Bayous, the dark evil devil spawn, the evil loup garou is a peculiar half animal half man creature, a sometimes even described as an invisible shape shifter with a taste for human blood. He is also known as a trickster and in some cases might teach a person a life changing lesson and in essence leave a lasting mark upon them.
These southern swamp were-creatures are said to be not only the most deadliest but the most intelligent of all the were-creatures world wide. That is if you pay attention to the stories of those that tell of their encounters and sightings as I do.
Loup Garou (French for werewolf) These American werewolves are often attributed superhuman strength and senses, far beyond those of both wolves and men.
The werewolf is generally held as a European character, although its lore spread through the world in later times. Shape-shifters, similar to werewolves, are common in tales from all over the world, most notably amongst the Native Americans of the South, though most of them involve animal forms other than that of the the lone killer wolves.
There is also as many know a mental illness called lycanthropy in which a patient believes he or she is, or has transformed into, an animal and behaves in the mannerisms of the beast they assume. This is sometimes referred to as clinical lycanthropy to distinguish it from its use in legends. Despite its origin as a term for man-wolf transformations only, lycanthropy is used in this sense for animals of any type. This broader meaning is often used in modern fictional references, such as in role playing game culture.
They as paranormal or supernatural creatures, the were beast of the great southern states, have a large range. Stalking the night or even in the light of a sunny day, from the foul swamps and slews of Marshall, Texas, Caddo Lake to the haunted Louisiana's hidden bayous and on to the great Gulf's pristine white Florida shoreline, and many lycan hot spots in between.
Taking the form of man or beast to it's own delight and fancy is often the true rule that applies here. Many in these parts will tell you the creature can and does change form at will. Sometimes described as a great black dog other accounts describe it as an invisible being that only shows its true form to the eyes of the person or prey it devours. Those that say they have encountered the werewolf of Caddo Lake and Longview, Texas creature and escaped unharmed often tell of the monsters fetid breath, great large blood red glowing eyes and the distorted face of a muted half-human half-wolf or coyote. The further south from Marshall,Texas you roam the Texan description changes to a great magnitude with each tale one might hear. From having the sole ability to change from man to mouse, cat, rat, panther or black bear, this monster half man thing is the purest form of shapeshifter in the modern world.
The legendry man beast in Southern Louisiana can transform from nutria to man and every form of creature from insect to fowl in the blink of an eye. The savagery of it's kill have defied explanation over the centuries. Each attack is usually different a many strange eerie tales do so account. From almost clean surgically precise murders to total shear mutilation of it's unsuspecting victims.
Attacks of this creature often resemble carefully laid out intricate plans. Many often state that the man or human side of the creature actually plots out the horrendous crime, and the transformed animal side carries out the heinous deed. Many authors to date have only hinted at or have speculated that werewolf legends of the America's and modern times or loup garou attacks and of course may have been used to in past centuries as going on to explaining actual serial killings. This theory is given credence by the tendency of some modern serial killers to indulge in practices commonly associated with werewolves, such as cannibalism, mutilation, and cyclic attacks. This which was first highly explored and investigated in the number 1 bestseller, "The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings by Brad Steiger" the first edition.
The fact that the creature can become as many claim invisible or actually change to any shape at will does so often account for the creatures prowess and ability to attack it's victim in front of actual witnesses unseen. A often told account from Houma, Louisiana tells that the creature can turn into a cock roach or water bug and crawl into it's victims home through a small crack.
The actual face and appearance of the creature can and certainly will change from story telling to tall tale. As also can the creatures demeanors. This were beast to many is more then just a walking creature of confusion. The same applies to actual loup garou encounters and attacks in recent years. Of course any do not document their experiences if they have lived through the attack because they are now loup graous themselves.
The loup garou is defiantly a mutable creature. Strangely inherent with the power to shape shift at will in the twinkle of an eye cause this nightmare monster to so be confused with other foul monster that rule the night. As many know they also suck blood to survive for they can change into misquotes or leeches if they wish to hide in a community. The transfer of becoming a loupe garou can occur by be bitten by such creatures also. The loupe garou as many believe is a trickster monster that in some cases might test a persons metal so to speak.
The loup garou is also thought to be the most intelligent of were creatures for it possess the same level of intelligence as it does in any or all forms it takes on. This is what I personally call from living in in these parts of the country a real Texas mimic monster.
My dear old Granny Harp would tell me as I sat by her rocking chair with my head upon her knee. She would tell me great tales of how the creature, of course this is when she was a young girl of 17, that it would call out people by name in the dark and use it charms to lure it's prey into the deepest part of the blackness to devour them. Over time young children would disappear from their cribs and homes. Young women and boys often vanished from existance. Some were found dead with no cause apparent, others often horribly mutilated. And still many speak of those who were never found.
Texan and Southern Louisiana Loupe Garou Descriptions
The monster has been described by many witness over the years, in true form as having the eyes of a human the teeth of a nutria, alligator, snake and wolf all in it mouth at the same time. And with each different tooth growing one next to the other in no particular odor. Horns of a cow and a male goat and a armadillo plated like body with crawfish claws. Let us not forget that it is over 8- 10 feet tall and has a long black snakes tongue.Some who have encountered the loup garou or had a sighting, too often describe it as having a terrible stench that lingers in an area for hours as well as associating it as a swamp sasquatch or rural bigfoot.
Many old swamp tales tell that the loup garou was once a wizard or voodoo man and that he still stalks the world looking for human prey. He is said as my granny Harp told a huge handsome muscular man, swarthy with deep golden brown or hazel eyes. she said he exudes sexuality and will any seduce a man or woman who dare to cross his path. Once he sexually comprises them he will either bite their heads off or leave his mark upon them so that he may prey upon them in years to come. He will also destroy the loup garou's that his fledglings have made to keep the American loup garou or werewolf population under his sole control. Granny said he only allow the smartest of his pack to survive and kills those that do not meet his standard. She likened it to that up a super elite race of Loup Garou's that someday might rule man as his cattle.
The loup garou is also able to turn into inanimate objects also to avoid detection. My granny Harp once told me of an encounter her daddy had with a loup garou hiding in his barn that had turned itself into a a piece of long rope. tales such as these I have come to find out are very common in these parts of Texas as well as in Louisiana and Mississippi.
They often have spoken of strange feeding habits of the loup garou are more distorted then many will agree with, in listening to such sorted tales and accounts. I have begun to understand that the creatures are said to be by witness I have spoken to, to actually be very cannibalistic.
They will seek out a victim and turn it into it's own kind only to hunt it once again and devour it. This associate the fact that this creature is a generally solitary beast that does not associate in packs as a common general rule. This was first brought to my attention by my father when I would ask him what he knew of the creature when I was in my teens.
The female of the species is very rare and hard to find since the creature so chooses to have sexual contact with only human females to procreate. Though the creature I here tell has also raped a man or two in its vicious sexual attacks. In truth I believe the creature is more are less bisexual in nature though some might lean either way.
"If they bite a person and they turn into a loup garou then they are the originals monsters first choice of prey." This she would say my dear old granny Harp, with seriousness that many could not refute.
"They just fast as it can turn itself into a great giant swamp living moccasin, cotton mouth or king snake and swallow up it's victim on the spot alive" "And so from this observation one does know it likes the specific taste of it's own kind!"
The Louisiana loup garou beast in human form is said to bare a evil red or brown devil mark, some tales I have uncovered say it is a brand or or magical symbol tattoo, of that which resembled the fleur-de-lis (or fleur-de-lys; plural: fleurs-de-lis; (pronunciation as in lease, not lee), or a short dagger with a devils head and blooming magnolia. The hideous devil loup garou mark could be anywhere on their bodies and even on their private parts. This is especially is something my great granny Harp would tell me.
My granny Harp would say, these tales of how young just married women were instructed to thourghly search their husbands naked bodies on their wedding nights for such marks before they consummated the ceremony. If you found the mark you were doomed. "Many a marriage when granny Harp was young she would say ended that night for the young girls finding the curse mark would either disappear never to found, or to leave their husbands on the spot.
My granny would tell me tales of politicians and judges that were loup garou. She also would point to the headlines in newspapers saying see this killer here they just executed him today, he has the mark of the beast on him.
She also told me how the beast would chase down and kill a certain blood line if you harmed it. She also said the creature might like the specific taste that a specific family has and always search for that persons bloodline to stalk and prey upon or possible mate with to create their super lycan race.
The loup garou will as many often tell, eat or devour everything and everybody that dares to cross it's path. Sheep and cattle mutilations, cat and dog disappearances, and even missing persons and kidnappings have often been long associated with the beasts ravenous appetite. Many of these creatures it is said like to keep their victims alive and torture them for sheer pleasure. The loup garou as a few disjointed tales tell often like to keep prized heads or anatomical parts of their victims that were hard to catch as a trophy.
The Louisiana Loup Garou Lights
The very strange Loup Garou lights are a phenomena many say that happen when you drive along Hwy 1 headed to Grande Isle. In the time before the advent of Hurricane Katrina the phenomena was one that local teenagers were told to keep them from driving the distance to find a place to park. And if you have ever driven the length of this long stretch of swamp through highway you will know there are none.
May young couples late on a Saturday night would go out to look for the lights. they are said to chase cars down the highway or take you straight to hell if they catch you parked in a car on the side of the narrow road. The Loup Garou Lights are said to be huge gaseous spheres, or bright yellow or green orbs of light that actually have a monster face inside the sphere or orb. The face as it is described in the Galliano,
(Galliano La is a census-designated place on the Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 7,356. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. And the Port Fouchon area of Louisiana or often more wolf like or rat like then any other animal. The further north yo go they might described as having human or snake faces. In the Grand Isle are and in Barataria, La it was believed that Jean Lafite or one of his trusted captains or first mate was a loup garou though this claim is unsubstantiated.
The monster lights or loupe garou's or often the subject of talk of those that take the long trip since Hurricane Katrina and the GUlf oil spill. The loup garou lights have been said to chase cars down the highway passing them at great speed and disappearing into the marsh.
They have been described as being firefly like as well as similar to ghost orbs in photographs but are able to be seen with the bare naked eye. They are also said to be able to turn into the beast in an instant and devour or drag a human into the darkness in the blink of an eye. I have also found tales of late of loup garou that sing or cry in the night for help.
The loup garou lights have been told of in great from Galveston to Miami and all parts in between. Many or often told of dark lonely roads on stormy nights, this may liken them to lightening beast or a similar form of loup garou that only attack on stormy nights. Their name may change from location to location, but from my personal observations the facts tell that they are one in the same.
The Black Loup Garou is a shadow beast 4 times larger then a man that attacks those stranded along side a road in the dark of the night and even the day. The only sign of their existence has been told in tales that spans generations. Often only the persons abandon wagon or belongs were found onside of a road, river or bayou and now in modern times, cars, motorcycles and bikes. These black loup garou's are said to feed on the lost as well as travelers and today's hitchhikers. The creature as I was told by many eyewitness is often see as a hitchhiker that in no way passes you but always turns up miles ahead of you for you to see over and over again. When this happens you know the creature is stalking you because it is to strange to let go of. Some liken this to hitchhiking ghost but those that live in Louisiana often will dispute the fact and point out that a loup garou is at the work.
LOUP GAROU SHAPE SHAPESHIFITING
The Mississippi loup garou or those that live along the border of louisiana and the Pearl River area describe the creatures as having the proboscis snout of a female mosquitoes, the body of an alligator snapping turtle and the skin of an armadillo.
The Galveston Island, Texas loup garou is said to take the common form of a great huge black dog with gold or red eyes. It will as any tell change to human form to interact with it's prey but is normally more comfortable in it's original black devil dog form.
Because of the magical shape shifting powers of the loup garou those that tell of them often describe them as the perfect monster to fill your nightmares.
The Legend of the Rougarou
The Rougarou (alternately spelled as Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, or Rugaru), is a legendary creature in Laurentian French communities linked to European notions of the werewolf. Though often accounts of this creature reach many different communities as just urban legends today.
Rougarou represents a variant pronunciation and spelling of the original French
loup garou. Both words are used interchangeably in southern Louisiana. Some
people call the monster rougarou; others refer to it as the loup garou.
Rougarou represents a variant pronunciation and spelling of the original French loup-garou. According to Barry Jean Ancelet, an academic expert on Cajun folklore and professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the tale of the rougarou is a common legend across French Louisiana. Both words are used interchangeably in southern Louisiana. Some people call the monster rougarou; others refer to it as the loup garou. The rougarou legend has been spread for many generations, either directly from French settlers to Louisiana (New France) or via the French Canadian immigrants centuries ago. And of course into bording states of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
In the Cajun legend, the creature is said to prowl the swamps around Acadiana
and Greater New Orleans, and possibly the fields or forests of the regions. The
rougarou most often is noted as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend.
Often the story-telling was used for fear. One example is stories were
told by elders to persuade Cajun children behave. Another example relates that
the wolf-like beast will hunt down and kill Catholics who do not follow the rules of Lent. This coincides with the French Catholic loup garou stories, where the
method for turning into a werewolf was to break Lent seven years in a row.
A common blood sucking legend speculated that the rougarou was under
the spell for 101 days. After that time, the curse was transferred from
person to person when the rougarou drew another human's blood. During
the day the creature returned to human form. Although acting sickly,
the human refrained to tell others of the situation for fear of being killed.
Other stories range from the rougarou as a headless horseman to the
rougarou derived from witchcraft. In the latter claim, only a witch could make a
rougarou - either by turning themselves into wolves or cursing others with
lycanthropy.
The creature, spelled Rugaru, has been associated with southern Native American legends, though there is some dispute. Such folklore versions of the rugaru vary from being mild bigfoot (sasquatch) creatures to cannibal-like Native American wendigos. Some dispute the connection between Native American folktales and the francophone rugaru. As is the norm with legends transmitted by oral tradition, stories often contradict one another. The stories of the wendigo vary by tribe and region, but the most common cause of the change is typically related to cannibalism.
Lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a werewolf, or to gain wolf-like characteristics. The term comes from Greek lykαnthropos (Λυκανθρωποσ): λυκος, lykos ("wolf") + ανθρωπος, anthrōpos ("human"). The word lycanthropy is sometimes used generically for any transformation of a human into animal form, though the precise term for that is technically "therianthropy". Sometimes, "zoanthropy" is used instead of "therianthropy". The word has also been linked to Lycaon, a king of Arcadia who, according to Ovid's Metamorphoses, was turned into a ravenous wolf in retribution for attempting to serve human flesh (his own son) to visiting Zeus in an attempt to disprove the god's divinity.
The soucouyant or soucriant in Dominica, Trinidadian and Guadeloupean folklore (also known as Ole-Higue or Loogaroo elsewhere in the Caribbean), is a kind of vampire witch. Please also see: The Soucouyant, The Real Blood Sucking Vampires In The Americas
References
Steiger, B. (2011 )The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings Second Edition
Rose, C. (2000). Giants, Monsters & Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend and Myth. New York: Norton. p. 230. ISBN 0-393-32211-4.
Guiley, R.E. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves & Other Monsters. New York: Facts on File. p. 192. ISBN 0-8160-4685-9.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
