Classification: Mythical Beasts & Cryptids

Temporal Range: 18th Century to present

Geographic Range: France and Louisiana, U.S.A.

Diet: Blood

Horde: Wild Beasts

Descended from France’s loup-garou, the Rougarou is Louisiana’s answer to the werewolf. Prowling the swamps and bayous of Cajun and Creole communities, it is a fearsome creature that’s part man, part wolf. Most sightings have described a creature with a wolf head and a human body but we’ve seen many cases with claws and thick fur.

Unlike many typical werewolf curses, the Rougarou has several variations from this tried and tested version. They are not simply turned via a bite from another werewolf and they do not only turn on the full moon. Instead, a Rougarou may be turned by a witch, by breaking Lent seven years in a row and by having blood drawn by another Rougarou.

It’s also claimed that a Rougarou’s curse lasts exactly one hundred and one days so there is an end in sight for victims. Granted, that’s trusting that they haven’t been hunted by the locals during that time and that they’ve managed to transfer the curse to another human via a scratch or a bite. So while becoming a Rougarou is an escapable curse, we can’t guarantee that those around you are willing to forgive whatever you’ve eaten, maimed or destroyed during your time in the wolf’s skin.

‍