Why are bats so good at harboring deadly viruses? For one thing, they have immune systems tolerant of infection that allow them to host a wide variety of viruses without getting sick. They live long lives (up to forty years), giving them plenty of time to spread disease. They are very mobile—some species range thirty miles or so each night in their hunt for food. And more important, as the climate warms, they can relocate. “Climate change is affecting bats in profound ways,” said Plowright. “Many bat species are insectivorous, and so climate change has a big impact on their food sources, as
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