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'Frog Lady' sees herself as 'nature missionary'

Deb Krohn doesn't have that many snakes.

That is, if you don't think 10 is a lot of snakes.

"It's so crazy to other people, my life," the Gurnee woman said with a laugh. "It would be such a good reality show."

After graduating from Iowa State University, Krohn worked as a naturalist for several years, serving on conservation boards in Iowa and educating visitors at a nature center in Will County.

She loved all her traditional jobs, but in 2010 - a few years after taking time off to care for her newborn son - Krohn decided to start her own business. She launched Frog Lady Presentations, to host educational nature programs at private parties, schools and public gatherings.

"I've always loved frogs," Krohn said. "For whatever reason, they fascinate me."

Snakes and frogs are just some of the more than 50 reptiles and amphibians that reside in Krohn's basement.

When she was growing up, Krohn's parents told her she could have as many pets as she wanted when she grew up. She's made that a reality, although her husband has instituted a "mammal ban" at their home, save for one 8-pound dog.

"My husband is very normal," she said. "My family and all my friends, they're normal. They keep me sane."

For most of her presentations, Krohn brings 15 to 20 animals - and it takes about 90 minutes of advance work to clean them and get them loaded into her vehicle.

On the car rides home, Krohn often talks to the animals.

"It's not like I can give them a bonus or a paycheck," she said. "How else do you show appreciation? Food, and sometimes, 'Thanks guys, it was a tough one, I know!'"

While her most popular presentations are about herpetology, her program offerings also feature topics such as nature journaling, animal skulls, fossils and rocks.

"People love live animal shows," she said. "They love to hear, especially, about animals that freak them out, like snakes. Even if you hate them you're still going to look."

"My main goal is to just get people not to fear them," she said. "I don't expect anyone to go out and buy them as a pet. But if I can get them to walk out of the door and say 'Hey, they're not so bad,' that's really what I want to accomplish."

She says she feels like a "nature missionary."

"I just go around and basically tell people about how awesome nature is and how you should like nature, too, and wildlife," she said. "Not only are they interested, they pay me for it. It's pretty awesome."

Her business has grown so much that her summers are completely booked.

"I could work seven days a week in the summer if I wanted to," she said. "I don't want to."

Krohn admits, however, that there are days when she misses having human co-workers.

"I'm with people all day, but it still feels a little lonely. They're still strangers," she said. "Sometimes I feel like every day is the first day on the job."

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  Deb Krohn says her audiences particularly like to learn about creatures that otherwise might "freak them out." Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com, February 2015
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