I’ve heard bells are good for alerting wild life too.
Those of you going to the California Muni Weekend should read this notice I found on another web site:
Beware of Bears
The California State Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and golfers to take extra precautions and be on the alert for bears while in the Yosemite, Tahoe, and Northern Sierra areas.
They advise people to wear noise-producing devices, such as little bells, on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly.
They also advise you to carry pepper spray, in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for signs of bear activity.
People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings:
Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur.
Grizzly bear droppings have bells in them and smell like pepper spray.