Changes in the ecology of small-mammal and bird communities during post-fire succession are reviewed for the North American boreal forest and tundra. Data from the literature are summarized systematically, emphasizing comparison of the community properties of small-mammals and bird assemblages from early post-fire through to mature successional stages. In general, a broad trend of increase in species diversity, species richness, numbers, biomass, and consuming biomass are higher in the herb stage, and lower in the shrub stage, and lower in the sapling stage than in mature forest. These trends undoubtedly reflect changes in the ground vegetation and the heterogeneity of plant communites (both vertically through the tree canopy, and horizontally reflecting patchiness) with succession.