A black bear made a surprise visit as it broke into a gated community in Naples, Florida, and casually walked through the neighborhood on Sunday (June 19).

Twitter user Jimmy Ritchie filmed the creature when his kids pointed out the bear. They followed it as it made its way into their community, eventually making its way into the lake behind their house where it took a little swim.

Jimmy told Newsflare: "I was with my 2 kids and we were just really excited to see the bear."

"People have seen an occasional bear at night time (typically trash night) but it's not very common. Personally, I have never seen one in the neighborhood. This bear was absolutely enormous. We followed it from outside of our community (it's a gated community) as it made its way into our community and onto our street eventually making its way into the lake behind our house where it took a little swim."

Many Southwest Floridians and visitors have been surprised to learn they share the region with black bears.

I was with my 2 kids (7 year old son and 4 year old daughter) and we were just really excited to see the bear. People have seen an occasional bear at night time (typically trash night) but it's not very common..personally I have never seen one in the neighborhood. This bear was absolutely enormous. We followed it from outside of our community (it's a gated community) as it made its way into our community and onto our street eventually making its way into the lake behind our house where it took a little swim.