Lake at the back of the menagerie (4)

I believe the answer is:

erie

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'lake' is the definition.
(Lake Erie is one of the Canadian/US 'Great Lakes')

'the back of the menagerie' is the wordplay.
'ERIE' is hidden within the letters.
But, I am not sure how this is indicated.

'at' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for erie that I've seen before include "Superior companion" , "North american lake sounds spooky" , "Spooky-sounding" , "The lake sounds weird" , "A Great American lake - sounds spooky" .)

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