This species is found in a very wide variety of habitats, including forested areas, grasslands, agricultural lands, and in areas associated with human settlements. It is highly adaptable and can colonize at high densities. Typically terrestrial, active during the night, spending the day in a burrow or any hiding places. It is a good swimmer and climber, comes out of its hiding places at dusk with species-specific shrill or squeaky call notes like chik-chikchik from which the common Bengali name Chika has been derived. In addition to natural food it would readily consume food left over in the kitchen or offals dumped at the backyard. It produces an obnoxious smell that nobody likes (Khan 1985, 1987, 2015). It is a voracious insectivore and also opportunistic feeder. It breeds throughout the year, usually producing two litters per year. The gestation period is one month.