Who loves abundant holiday food and comfy accommodations more than we do? Pests, that's who.

While many of us are planning much smaller gatherings than usual this year, pests are nonetheless ready to reap the rewards of our hard work. This blogger was recently reminded of this fact, no-so-politely, by some unidentified scavengers who eagerly overturned my garbage can in the middle of the night. 

To help you avoid the same early-morning, glove-wearing, shivering fate of peeling trash off your frozen grass, we've compiled some tips for keeping pests away from your Thanksgiving table.

1. The obvious starting point: Keep trash sealed. Ensure lids fit properly, use indoor trash bins with lids, and when possible, keep food covered. Don't let trash pile up; tie bags tightly and take them outside as soon as they fill.

2. Stay as tidy as possible. Wipe down food prep, serving, and eating areas often. Periodically sweep or vacuum high foot-traffic areas. Put away food as soon as it's finished-- as difficult as that can be on Thanksgiving.

3. Don't neglect the yard (This task is best left to pre- or post-turkey nap). Keep grass short and leaf litter to a minimum. Store firewood away from your home and keep shrubbery trimmed back.

4. Never underestimate proper storage. Well-sealed containers for leftovers and pantry items prevent rodents, roaches, and moths, among others, from breaking into flimsy packaging. When it comes to decorations and other holiday themed items that spend a lot of time in the basement or attic, be sure to keep boxes off the floor as much as possible.

Finally, don't forget that your friends at Burgess Pest are here to help if all else fails. During any season, we're Protecting Your Pad from dozens of common pests- and the best part? You don't even have to feed us.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!