Snags, or standing dead trees, are an important structural component of forest ecosystems. Many animals, including endangered species, depend on snags for foraging, protection, or raising young. Climate change, habitat loss, and modification of natural disturbance regimes contribute to changes in the availability and characteristics of snags in forests. Therefore, understanding what natural and artificial processes promote snags with the characteristics necessary for wildlife is a significant conservation concern. We examined how low-severity prescribed fire affected the density and characteristics of snags at 80 sites in the Talladega National Forest, Alabama. We sampled sites within 4 prescribed fire intervals, including 1–3 (previously thinned 4–23 years ago), > 3–8, > 8–12, and > 12 years. At each site, we measured snags across transects on 3 different slope positions, including the ridge, mid-slope, and valley, to account for slope-influenced fire behavior and stressors. The average diameter of snags increased in stands with the shortest prescribed fire interval, but snag height, decay class, and percentage of bark remaining were similar across all fire intervals. Snag density was lowest in the shortest fire interval due to fewer small- and medium-sized hardwood snags. A higher density of large snags was found in the shortest fire interval compared to the longest fire interval. Ridges had a greater density of snags compared to mid-slope and valley positions due to more small- and medium-sized pine snags. Although thinning followed by frequent, low-severity prescribed fire reduces snag density, the increase in density of large-diameter snags provides high-quality habitat for snag-dependent birds and bats. More intense fire and other stressors on ridges likely promote higher densities of snags. Our research indicates forest managers can use prescribed fire and thinning to accomplish multiple management goals while continuing to produce valuable snags for wildlife.