Python captured in Manatee County

BRADENTON - Wildlife expert Justin Matthews has caught a lot of snakes in his life, but never one quite like this.

"This snake could kill one man, no problem. If he was alone, got bit, three wraps around him, he's done," explains Matthews.

This 14-foot Burmese python weighs as much as a small person -- 107 pounds.  And she knows how to use every last inch.

She's one of the most aggressive Burmese pythons Matthews has ever seen.

"She's angry. She's still angry," offers Matthews as the snake strike the rubber shield he's holding.

She may be agitated, but Matthews and emergency officials are relieved.  For four months she's been folklore around town, eluding authorities and slithering around Bradenton feeding on Muscovy ducks.

That is until Saturday, when somebody spotted her.

Hidden in the abyss of a culvert lay the 14-foot reptile.

It took Matthews, his son and at least four other emergency workers more than an hour to wrestle the snake out of there.

"That was a long crawl, and I'm getting too old for it," offered Matthews.

Even more disturbing is the snake's proximity to the public.  A daycare center, the closest building to the culvert, is just a short walk away.

"This snake could swallow an 8-year-old. Yeah, without no problem," adds Matthews.

The dangers of the non-native snakes have been highlighted recently in Florida.

A 2-year-old girl was strangled to death by a Burmese python smaller than this one in Sumter County.

Sightings and captures of other large snakes seem to be more frequent -- so much so, the state started a python eradication program in the Everglades to try and reduce the population.  Matthews will be a part of that program this fall.

This time around, he's left with some bumps and bruises from the fight.

"I got the elbows and the knees all scraped up," according to Matthews.

He's relieved this snake is now captive, but worried there may be more lurking about town.

"I hope there's not in Bradenton, but I believe there is," said Matthews.

Matthews will take the snake to be scanned Monday to see if it's microchipped.  He says the chances are slim, but if it is, it'll point them in the direction of the snake's former owner.

They do believe it was once someone's pet.

Matthews is a wildlife expert and plans to keep the snake for educational purposes.