We are building a home in the Peoria IL area and during the tree clearing, we noticed 4-6 trunks that seem to be black walnut. After talking with a few people, they recommend we do some research because they could be valuable...ie; more than what our excavator is going to give us for them.

Should we just let them go or would you recommend contacting someone regarding their value?

Hi Scott:

If you really want to determine the value of these trees (i.e., firewood, low, average, high), then please contact a professional consulting forester for an on-site appraisal of these trees.

Nobody can provide you a value estimate for potential high-value hardwood species like black walnut without an on-site inspection of the individual trees. Why? Because stem/log quality, or field-grade, of hardwood species must be determined in order to adequately assess overall value for each individual tree.

Directory of Illinois Professional Consulting Foresters:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/forestry/pdf/tfb-nres-202.pdf