In 2002, Hydro Quebec donated the land to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) which manages the site as a wildlife reserve.

In 1937, the island along with nearby Goat, The Seven Sisters, Devil's, and Boquet Islands were collectively granted status as a federal migratory bird sanctuary under its official name of Ile aux Hérons Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

Hence its namesake, the island currently (2010) hosts Quebec's 2nd largest colony of Great Blue Herons.

Other nesting birds include the Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret and numerous others.

Around 2000 it was thought that 3 White-tailed Deer arrived on the island either by swimming or by crossing over ice in the winter.