Lilies: The $10,000 question: how to deter voles, 1 by Bookerc1

Bookerc1 wrote:
I planted about 50 lily bulbs last year (I know, a drop in the bucket compared to many of you!) Recently when I was cleaning out my beds, I found burrowing holes all over. I bumped the browned stem of one of my new Tango lilies, and it fell over as if it hadn't even been attached. I carefully dug down, and couldn't find the bulb. I am so disgusted! We had trouble with voles a few years ago, when they ate all of my tulip bulbs, but haven't seen any sign of them for quite a while.

Is there anything I can do to protect my bulbs, short of digging them up and putting each one in a wire cage? I've heard hot sauce deters them, but didn't know how much of that was truth, and how much was wishful thinking.

I so enjoyed my lily blooms this summer, I hate to even think about how many of the bulbs those mini-monsters have eaten. Advice?

Angie