Instagrammers could cause damage to Lone Oak tree at Pismo Preserve

PISMO BEACH, Calif. - A lone oak tree at the Pismo Preserve is getting lots of attention on social media, but visitors are in danger of damaging it.

The tree is located on a newly opened section of the Pismo Preserve. It opened on January 25.

Since then, the preserve has been getting 1,000 visitors a day.

One of the most popular trails is the lone oak trail. The main feature of which is one oak tree overlooking all of Pismo Beach.

Several people are taking to social media to capture the park and share photos of the tree.

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo is concerned visitors are getting a little too close. They have placed a sign at the foot of the tree, telling visitors not to climb it.

They have also posted on their Instagram a photo of the tree, telling visitors to be careful around it.

"Many people have climbed onto the trunk to get a great photo and have sat around its roots," said Kaila Dettman, executive director of the conservancy.

"We're just concerned that that kind of impact over time could cause it to die earlier than it would if it was left alone," she said.

The conservancy estimates the tree to be 100 to 200 years old.

Healthy oak trees can live to be 500 years old. Though coastal oaks tend to have a slightly shorter lifespan.

A damaged tree can die very quickly, within a year of being damaged if the damage is severe enough.