Authorities say a bear broke into a northern New Jersey home and was shot with rubber bullets before it escaped into the woods.

The Daily Record reports Denville police fired "conditioning shots" with rubber bullets on Monday afternoon after the bear resisted officers' attempts to chase it out of a basement and into the woods.

Capt. Paul Nigro says police responded to a report of a bear eating garbage and found it in an unoccupied home. He says police tried to chase the bear away from the neighborhood but it then moved to a neighboring home and began eating garbage.

Fish and Wildlife officials and police tried unsuccessfully to track the bear to determine its condition. Officials say they believe the bear suffered a superficial wound that isn't life-threatening.