(05/10/06) IRVINGTON ? Police in Irvington cornered and killed a bear Wednesday that residents had seen recently wandering through the area.

The bruin was cornered behind a home where it was shot seven times by police officers. Resident in and around Newark had reported sightings of the bear since Tuesday. At one point, the animal wandered through the streets of Newark about a half mile east of Seton Hall University.

The bear wandered into one of New Jersey?s ?bear exclusion zones.? Under bear exclusion guidelines, urban communities can kill the bear once it has encroached on certain areas. They can also allow the bear to leave if they don?t believe it will cause any harm.