A bacterial strain named SE08 capable of degrading 2–methyl–4–chlorophenoxy acetic acid (MCPA) was newly isolated by enrichment culture from the tobacco field soil in Chenzhou district, Hunan province. Strain SE08 was temporarily identified as Enterobacter sp. based on morphological and physio-biochemical characteristics combined with 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Strain SE08 could effectively degrade MCPA in concentration range 150–1 000 mg/L. And 45.21% of MCPA (500 mg/L) could be degraded by strain SE08 in 24 h. The optimal pH value and temperature for MCPA degradation by SE08 was 6.0 and 30 °C, respectively.