Normally, two to four eggs are laid and incubated by the female only for 26-35 days. They are fed for another few weeks as they are slowly weaned. Families remain loosely associated during summer before young disperse in the autumn. Territories are maintained by the same pair for as many as 8 consecutive years, however, these Owls are solitary in nature, only staying with their mate during the nesting season. A long-lived Owl, captive birds have been known to live 29 to 38 years, and wild Owls up to 13 years.
Most mortality is related to man - shootings, traps, road kills and electrocutions.
The only natural enemies are other Great Horned Owls and, occasionally, Northern Goshawks during disputes over nest sites. Great Horned Owls have adapted to many different places and climates. They occur in habitats from dense forests, deserts and plains to city parks. They have been known to inhabit the same area as the diurnal red-tailed hawk. Great Horned Owls are found throughout North America from the northern treeline and then in Central and South America.