Thanks. I suppose it doesn't hurt to make noise was you walk, letting them know you're coming, so as not to surprise them.

When I lived in Alaska and hiked in bear country (pretty much everywhere I hiked), I always travelled armed. But at the same time, I hung a string of camel bells on my hiking staff. Besides being a lovely accompaniment for walking, they did a pretty good job of alerting bears to my presence. Never had a bad encounter, but frequently saw fresh sign along the trail.

I guess the bells worked.

__________________
Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control;
these three alone lead one to sovereign power.
Tennyson