These Owls can live for at least 7-8 years. Incubating females are sometimes killed by Pine Martens. They are also preyed upon by larger raptors, such as other owls and Goshawks. Preferred habitat varies throughout its range but includes mainly old-growth forests with woodpecker cavities for nesting. They inhabit a range of forests from pure coniferous to pure deciduous forests.
Southern populations tend to occur in high subalpine forests.
Hunting habitat includes forest meadows and open forests. Roughly follows the northern forest belt. Also occurs locally in Europe. In North America, the distribution is generally confined to the forest areas of the Rocky Mountains. To the east of the Rockies they occur as far south as New Mexico, and to the west they occur in forests from Alaska to Oregon.