Schmid and zoo workers are grateful for the return of Merlin, who has resided at Little River Zoo for "seven or eight years," Schmid said.

"How thankful we are he's back," she said. "One thing that has impressed me so much -- we've had so many people calling the zoo, worried about Merlin.

"I'm so glad to have him back. I was afraid they wouldn't take care of him and release him into the wild" where Merlin might freeze to death, she said.

"You can feel it around the zoo -- we feel so good because he's home," Schmid said.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com