Sierra Wynn of Palm Bay woke to a 3 a.m. security alert on July 17 and saw an 8-foot alligator on her porch hissing at her front door. The encounter happened near Heritage High School, according to Florida Today. Wynn said her first thought was that her dog was trapped inside. She moved the dog to another room and closed the door. 'It didn’t move; it just growled and hissed,' she said. 'The sound was guttural and deep.' Palm Bay police officers used flashlights to keep the alligator outside until a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trapper removed it. Officials called the gator a juvenile despite its size. The neighborhood was once wetlands and now has canals and ponds that attract alligators. Wildlife experts say human expansion into natural habitats increases the risk of such encounters. Wynn’s home is in a development that borders former wetlands. The alligator was likely drawn to the area’s water sources. No injuries were reported. The gator was relocated to a more suitable habitat. Similar incidents have increased as development encroaches on wildlife areas. Residents are advised to secure trash and avoid feeding animals. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages reporting wildlife sightings. Wynn said the experience was 'shocking' and 'like a movie scene.' She now keeps a door closed at night. The incident highlights the growing tension between urban expansion and wildlife preservation in Brevard County.