The Rougarou (alternately spelled as Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, or Rugaru), is a kind of werewolf in the Cajun folklore of French Louisiana.
Etymology
Rougarou is derived from the French loup-garou. Loup is French for wolf, and garou from Frankish garulf, meaning a man who transforms into an animal.
Description/Morphology
The rougarou is described as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend.
Habitat
In the Cajun legends, the creature is said to prowl the swamps around Acadiana and Greater New Orleans, and possibly the fields or forests of the regions.
Stories
There are various legends and stories mostly inherited from the European werewolf with local features. A common legend says that the rougarou is under the spell for 101 days. After that time, the curse is transferred from person to person when the rougarou draws another human’s blood. During the day the creature returns to human form. Although acting sickly, the human refrains from telling others of the situation for fear of being killed.
See also
There is another creature called Rugaru, reportedly associated with Native American legends, but it is not clear if it is a sasquatch, a wendigo or a rougarou.