In the Cajun legends the Rougarou is said to prowl the swamps of Acadiana and Greater New Orleansand some of the fields or forests of this region. The Rougarou is most often described as a thing with a human body and the head of a wolf.

Although it is said that the story of the Rougarou was often used to inspire fear and obedience in Cajun children. One variation of the tale was that the Rougarou hunts and kills Catholics that do not obey the rules of Lent. This legend coincides with French Catholic tales that the way to become a werewolf is to break Lent for seven years in a row.

Another Rougarou legend is that the beast cursed for 101 days. After which, the curse is transferred from person to person when the Rougarou draws another human's blood. When the day comes that the curse is lifted and the Rougarou will be transformed back to human form the man or woman would look sickly but would not tell others the situation for fear of being killed.

Even though there is some dispute, the Rougarou is often associated with the Wendigo legends of Native American folklore. The Wendigo being a human that made an act of cannibalism and was transformed into the Wendigo and performed even more acts of cannibalism. A modified version of this tale is that if a person sees a Rougarou then that person will be transformed into an Rougarou.