COEUR d'ALENE — When Randy Reed's grandson was 2 years old, he called butterflies "wow-wows." 

Eventually, the reason why became clear. As people entered the Butterfly Haven, the butterfly sanctuary Reed runs with his family in the small, unincorporated community of Pingree in southern Idaho, they would point to the insects and exclaim, "Wow!" 

That's exactly what families did Tuesday at the North Idaho State Fair as they passed through a bead curtain and stepped carefully into a traveling version of the Butterfly Haven. 

Hundreds of butterflies drifted and floated about inside the large enclosure, sometimes resting on the walls, which are made of netting, on brightly-colored flowers or even on the visitors who had a chance to feed them. Unlike some of the human visitors, Reed said the butterflies didn't mind the hot temperatures.

"It tickles," a young girl said with a laugh as a butterfly landed on her arm. She looked to her mom, who had butterflies resting on her hands and legs. "Do they like you?" 

"They must," the girl's mother said, smiling. 

Many types of butterflies fluttered around the enclosure, including the zebra longwing, with its distinctive black and pale yellow wings, the bright orange Julia and the unmistakable monarch, Idaho's state insect. 

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the monarch butterfly population is in dire straits due to factors such as drought, pesticides and winter habitat loss. Abundant, healthy summer milkweed habitat, on which caterpillars are entirely reliant, is where Idaho can make the biggest contribution to restore monarch butterfly populations. 

Reed said the butterfly exhibit goes on the road, making four stops throughout the year, to help educate Idahoans about the importance of butterflies and other pollinators. 

"They're important to our world," he said. "We've got to take care of them." 

The best thing Idahoans can do to help support the pollinator population is to plant pollinator gardens and limit the use of pesticides, Reed said. Floss flowers make for a great butterfly habitat, though Reed said home gardeners should take note of what flowers seem to attract pollinators in their area. 

Reed said his love for butterflies came from his father, who gave him his first caterpillar when he was in the first grade. 

The caterpillar grew into a monarch that Reed was reluctant to release into the wild. 

"It was my pet," he said. 

In the end, Reed released the creature. But he's still chasing — and catching and raising — butterflies. He said it's harder than most people expect. 

"I like the challenge," he said. "Different butterflies have different requirements." 

The North Idaho State Fair continues today. 

    A monarch butterfly rests on floss flowers.