Burmese python bagged in Florida Everglades is one of largest ever captured

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. (WPVI) -- National Park Service officials say they captured a Burmese python more than 18 feet long along a popular wildlife-watching trail in Everglades National Park.

The 18-foot-3-inch python was caught July 9 along the tram road at Shark Valley in the park. The paved loop is used by cyclists and trams taking visitors on wildlife tours through the wetlands.

Park officials told ABC affiliate WFTV-TV that a python researcher caught the female snake, which was later euthanized.

According to state wildlife officials, the longest python ever caught in Florida was 18 feet 8 inches long.

"It's a top 1 percent, but it's also within the known size range. So we expect over time to encounter these large animals," said Tylan Dean, chief of the park's biological research branch told Tampa Bay Online.

Pythons are not native to Florida, where scientists say the snakes are devouring native wildlife. According to researchers, a python that's 18 feet long is capable of ingesting large prey such as deer or alligators.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.