Chessie, Maryland's very own "sea monster" that first made an appearance in the bay 17 years ago, was spotted by boaters on Friday.
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© USGSUsing a photo-identification catalog, USGS scientists were able to confirm the manatee was Chessie based on scar patterns

U.S. Geological Survey biologist Cathy Beck verified that the manatee, found by Calvert County boaters, was indeed the same creature that surfaced in 1994. The boaters sent Chessie's photo to the National Aquarium, which forwarded it to the USGS, where Beck verified the manatee's markings, including a long, gray scar on his left side.

"It was a huge surprise," Beck told The Washington Post. "I get a lot of questions every year - 'Have you seen Chessie? Have you seen Chessie?' The answer for 10 years has been, ''No, sorry.'"

Biologists predict that, once the waters cool down, Chessie and his manatee friends will migrate back down to Florida, then future sightings will be uncertain again.

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