#and my dog spooked a mama bear with three cubs

[clearancecreedwatersurvival]

Yes it may be annoying when people play music from a speaker on short hikes near heavily populated areas, but if you are hiking actual back country where there might be bears, you NEED to make noise.

This is why scouting groups sing trail songs and add noise makers to walking sticks, you need to either be talking or singing or have some loud clanky metal on your pack, SOMETHING as a warning to the local wildlife that humans are around.

The number one way to avoid conflict with bears is to make sure the bears can hear you coming and get the fuck away.