PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Residents in Port St. Lucie’s Tradition community woke up to an unusual sight Tuesday morning: a Florida black bear roaming through their neighborhood.

The bear was spotted swimming in a lake before running through a resident’s yard in Tradition’s Town Park community. Video of the sighting quickly caught the attention of neighbors.

“I think it’s kind of cool because I’m like an adrenaline. I like that adrenaline. I like the chaos,” said resident Jeronimo Alonso.

For others, the encounter was a little more unsettling.

“It’s pretty crazy. It’s kind of close to home here,” said resident David Hoffman. “Seeing it swim through the lake and then go through the houses, you know, I’ve got a little pet at home. Kind of makes you think twice before you head outside.”

Officials say Florida black bears typically avoid people and usually move on if they can’t find an easy food source.

If you see a bear, officials advise giving it space, not approaching it and never trying to feed it. If you come face to face with a bear, stay calm, do not run and slowly back away while speaking in a calm, firm voice.

Police also recommend keeping pets on a short leash, as dogs can trigger defensive behavior from bears.

When asked how he would rank an alligator, panther and black bear from most frightening to least frightening, Hoffman put alligators at the top of the list.

“I’d say alligator. I’ve had experience with an alligator, so that definitely is scary there,” Hoffman said. “I live on the water and they come up there. The black bear, from what I hear, I don’t know much about them. From what I hear, they’re pretty docile.”

Officials say anyone who feels threatened by a bear, observes an injured or orphaned bear, or witnesses someone intentionally feeding or harming one should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife alert hotline.

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