In 1895, the French chocolatier Henri Menier bought the island of Anticosti in the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence for $125,000. His primary goal was to create a hunting reserve. He introduced 220 Virginia deer to the island, and today, the population has grown to between 160,000 and 200,000. In 2018, the island had 117 residents, leading to a ratio of over 1,300 deer per person. Anticosti spans 7,943 square kilometers and is 222 kilometers long, making it roughly the size of a French department. Menier, who had not visited the island when he signed the purchase, entrusted his right-hand man, Georges Martin-Zédé, with overseeing the project. Additional deer were later introduced, with some sources suggesting the total number of deer released may have been around 200. The deer population density on Anticosti is estimated at 20 to 25 animals per square kilometer. This high density has led to environmental challenges, particularly affecting the balsam fir, a tree species that forms a significant part of the deer's diet. Since the 1930s, the overpopulation has prevented the regeneration of balsam fir, as young shoots are browsed before they can mature. Despite this, the island remains a prime hunting destination, with a hunting success rate exceeding 85 percent, the highest in North America. Hunting is a crucial economic activity for the island’s 117 residents, who live in the village of Port-Menier, named after Menier. In 2023, Anticosti was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, though the recognition is based on the island’s geological features rather than its wildlife. The deer population, while central to the island’s identity, has no direct connection to its UNESCO status. The residents of Anticosti have a unique relationship with the deer, with some feeding them and children even taming them. A local regulation from 1994 prohibits dog ownership, further emphasizing the deer’s role in the community. The island’s ecological and social dynamics highlight the complex interplay between human activity and nature.