What a difference a few days can make.

Two weeks ago, Wildlife and Parks officials reported that wetlands in central and northwest Kansas were in dire straits because of lack of rainfall.

Moreover, one of the state’s premier wetlands – Cheyenne Bottoms, near Great Bend – was nearly dry.

All that changed in mid-August when up to eight inches of rain fell in the rainwater basin west of Cheyenne Bottoms, filling the wetland and making the prospects for the opening of early teal season bright.

As the Bottoms fills, the outlook is good, and improving as more water enters the basin through the inlet canal.

Nearby Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, in Stafford County, also received rain and is reporting that all pools now have water. However, the rainfall was spotty.

Wetland conditions at most areas in northcentral and northwestern Kansas remain dry. For weekly updated waterfowl reports on these and other areas of the state, go to www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

The early teal season is just around the corner. Both blue-winged and green-winged teal are arriving in the Sunflower State, and the season could be promising in areas that have received significant rainfall, and in others if rain comes soon.

Teal season east of U.S. Highway 283 will run from Saturday through Sept. 24. West of U.S. 283, the season will run from Sept. 16-23. For both seasons, the daily bag limit is four and the possession limit is eight.