News Animals Compared with rodents, bat species carry more viruses Infections that can jump from animals to people may find the flying mammals a fine place to lurk By Susan Milius February 7, 2013 at 3:26 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print A bat species may be more likely than a rodent to carry viruses known to jump from other animals to people, a new study suggests. Bats like these straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) live together in large groups.