Zoo officials hope to eliminate at least 20 deer from wooded areas, WTMJ-TV reported.

Zoo director Charles Wikenhauser said his main concern is chronic wasting disease, a prion disease like mad cow disease. He fears the disease could spread from white-tailed deer to elk and moose in the zoo collection.

Officials say the sharp shooters will be at work only when the zoo is closed to the public and will not be firing toward streets or inhabited areas. But people who live near the zoo are worried.

"Where do the bullets go?" asked Gabe Rodriguez. "Are they going to put a net up?"