UPDATE: The Bloomington City Council approved amending city code to allow sharpshooters to thin the deer population at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve by a 6-2-1 vote about 1:15 a.m. Thursday.

The no votes came from council members Dorothy Granger and Steve Volan. Tim Mayer abstained. Voting yes were Dave Rollo, Andy Ruff, Darryl Neher, Chris Sturbaum, Marty Spechler and Susan Sandberg.


EARLIER:


One of the most frequently asked questions about shooting deer at Griffy Lake didn’t have a simple answer.


During the Bloomington City Council discussion Wednesday night on whether to allow sharpshooting of deer to reduce the population in the area and protect diversity in the ecosystem, several council members were curious about the number of deer in the nature preserve and how many need to be culled.


Indiana Department of Natural Resources deer biologist Chad Stewart didn’t have a number for them.


“The DNR doesn’t have a magic number, and I don’t know if there is a magic number that exists,” Stewart said.


The question has also been raised by opponents of the ordinance that would amend city code to add an exception to discharging a firearm within city limits. It would apply to professional sharpshooters who have been approved for the necessary permits from the DNR and hired by the city parks board. It does not allow the general public to discharge firearms around Griffy Lake.


Stewart said the DNR focuses on plant regeneration to determine whether enough deer have been culled or if the hunt has been successful.


“The state does not put much emphasis on total deer numbers,” Stewart said, mentioning it’s always an estimate. “As soon as you put a number on deer, it’s usually debated.”


City Parks and Recreation Department Director Mick Renneisen said his understanding is that the contractor would assess the area and provide an estimate for the number of deer that sharpshooters will take before any are killed.


Council member Darryl Neher asked council attorney Dan Sherman if the council had the ability to undo any legislation the body passes. Sherman confirmed the council has that power.


A vote was not taken before The Herald-Times’ deadline. At midnight, a proposal to delay the vote and extend the discussion to an additional meeting failed.


More than 20 members of the public spoke, and this week there were more comments opposing the deer cull and than in support of it. Several people called the plan a “massacre,” and a couple compared the situation to killing puppies if there was an overpopulation of dogs. At last week’s meeting, the comments were about evenly split.


Indiana University Director of Undergraduate Studies and Assistant Professor of Philosophy Sandra Shapshay, who sent a letter to the council arguing against the ordinance, said council members Andy Ruff and Dave Rollo claim Griffy Lake Nature Preserve is dying, and that’s why lethal methods are necessary.


“But how do the sponsors know this?” Shapshay asked. “The fact of the matter is, they don’t.”


There were also a few representatives from the Indiana University Biology Department who signed a letter of support for the legislation. Professor Heather Reynolds explained the effects that deer have on the forest ecosystem — with deer eating all the plants, other organisms that feed off those plants have no food source.


Also similar to last week’s meeting, Ruff tried to have experts answer anticipated questions and respond to accusations from opponents. One was in response to a letter sent by the Center for Wildlife Ethics, which argued the DNR is biased in its recommendations because it receives funding from hunting license sales.


“There’s nothing for us to gain or lose in this outcome,” Stewart said.