Local Shepherd and Her Flock Back on Kudzu Patrol

Updated: Wed 1:43 PM, Jul 07, 2004

For the last few years, sheep from up north have traveled to our neck of the woods to help keep the wild foliage under control. Leon County and the City of Tallahassee both utilize the natural lawn mowers in those hard to reach areas.

In a day and age where technology surrounds us, Meghan Thacker can go to work and get away from it all.

"My job allows me to get away, and relax when I need to,” says Thacker.
Thacker is a rare, modern day shepherd.

"I'm a super sonic bear foot shepherd, that's what my friends call me,” Thacker shares.

For the last 18 years, Thacker has been working with these wooly animals.

"I just stumbled into it, had a friend who needed help after a shepherd just quit during a sheep project and I just never quit,” explains Thacker.

Thacker is the Head Shepherd for a special project with Leon County and Tallahassee to use the sheep to keep the kudzu and other wild foliage under control.

"It's really a great program the staff found out about and it's nature versus nature,” says Bob Rackleff of Leon County Commission.

"We're here to eradicate kudzu and whatever needs doing,” Thacker explains.

So if you're looking for a new profession, one that gets you back to nature, and you think it sounds like something you're interested in, you have to have, "Patience with animals, working out here in the heat with the bugs and ticks,” adds Thacker.

The dog is a necessity, but the shoes are optional. Thacker works for a company out of New Hampshire called Bellweather Solutions. There are more than 2,000 sheep used in the various projects around the area.

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