Miami-Dade County work crew finds 18-foot South Florida python . Snake was about 8 inches shorter than longest ever captured . A state worker killed the snake , thousands of one plaguing Burmese . The snakes feed on native species and destroy ecosystems , researchers say .
Florida work crew finds 18-foot Burmese python . Snake was about 8 inches shorter than longest ever captured . A state worker killed the snake , one of thousands plaguing South Florida . The snakes feed on native species and destroy ecosystems , researchers say .