Property owners may not realize the value growing in their backyards. And that lack of knowledge could cost them considerable cash.

Marlin Bayes wants to fix that.

Bayes, president of Western Canoeing Manufacturing Inc. in Abbotsford, and a Sumas Mountain resident, recently won an $8,600 small claims court settlement, involving a curly maple tree.

Also known as a figured or flamed maple, the wood has a curly, flaming or even a tiger stripe pattern in the grain that makes it decorative and highly sought.

The wood is used by woodturners, furniture makers and for musical instruments like violins and guitars.

According to Bayes, its value is being exploited.

Last year, Bayes discovered a tree cutter on his property, who was supposedly working for a neighbour.

When he confronted the man, Bayes noticed that some of his trees had already been damaged, and one was cut down.

“He claimed it was an honest mistake,” said Bayes, who ordered the cutter off his property.

“I came back that night and half the tree was gone.”

Despite what appeared to be a theft, the two parties met to discuss a settlement.

After negotiating a deal, Bayes allowed the man to remove the rest of the wood.

“He took the wood, then I couldn’t get hold of him.”

After some research and plenty of phone calls, Bayes discovered that the tree cutter had removed seven trees for another Sumas Mountain resident and paid them $3,200 for the wood. A different resident was paid $11,000 for six trees.

“Who knew they were so valuable?”

Bayes finally went to court and won an $8,600 decision.

“I may have won, but I haven’t collected anything yet.”

The tree cutter has disappeared, and his phone number doesn’t work.

Bayes just wants people to know his tree tale as a “buyer beware” story.

“It’s not just about tree poaching. I wonder how many people cut down these trees and chop them up for firewood.”

His story may sound unusual, but there are indications that significant maple tree theft has recently occurred on Sumas Mountain.

RCMP Cpl. Darren Kakuno is one of two officers in the Surrey-based Forest Crime Investigation Unit, and says tree poaching is common – across the region.

“It’s an ever-present problem,” said Kakuno, who has been with the unit for the past three years.

Poaching occurs everywhere on private property and Crown land.

“In B.C., we have a vast amount of forest area, so we have to rely on public support. We need people to call in.”

With only about one in 10 maple trees in the curly category, poachers have to establish which trees have more value.

Kakuno says the only way to do this is to remove the bark.

“They kill a lot of trees to find it.”

And when poachers do discover what they’re looking for, they usually only use about 10 to 20 feet of the tree.

“They only want the lower portion, the thicker part. It’s such a waste,” said Kakuno.

The rest is left to rot, which is another problem.

The trees are often dropped into fish-bearing streams, onto power lines and bridges, or worse, they aren’t fully cut down at all, posing a safety hazard.

Kakuno compares tree poaching to the recent rise in metal theft.

“You can get money for the wood, so people will try to take advantage.”

He urges anyone who witnesses suspicious activity to call their local police department.