CINCO RANCH, Texas — A close encounter with a massive alligator is serving as a reminder that these reptiles are on the move across Southeast Texas.

Residents in the Cinco Ranch neighborhood were startled over the weekend when a large alligator was spotted roaming a residential street, even making its way onto a homeowner’s lawn.

David Morton, who has lived in the neighborhood for 11 years, said a neighbor alerted him that something unusual was outside his home.

“Living in Southeast Texas, you know you live with animals like that,” Morton said.

When he stepped outside, Morton came face-to-face with the alligator and began recording the encounter.

“Am I safe? What kind of attitude is it in?” he recalled thinking. He said he kept his distance, backing toward his home while continuing to film.

“Giving it all of its respect — what you can’t see is I back up into the house a little bit,” Morton added. “But the family was quite amused with everything that’s going on, too, so they were making a ruckus.”