 The Tasmanian masked owl is considered to be endangered under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, because of its small population (estimated at about 1330 breeding birds, or 615 pairs) as well as ongoing habitat loss, especially of old-growth forest suitable for breeding.An important conservation need is to maintain nesting habitat in production forests.It is also threatened by competition for nest hollows by feral bees, kookaburras and possums.