It lives in villages with heavy wooded areas and dry crop fields, plantations and in all forest ecosystems having dry grounds. It is terrestrial, fossorial and seeks shelter in caves or in its burrow during the day. The species makes extensive burrows, depending on surrounding soils, with multiple chambers and many exists. Lives solitary (Menon 2004) or in groups of 2-4 individuals including parents. Diet includes mainly vegetable material of all kinds, including fruits, grains and roots (Prater 1980). It occasionally forages on carrion (M.A.R. Khan pers. comm.). It also chews on bones, in search of minerals (such as calcium) that help its spines grow (Gurung and Singh 1996, Prater 1980). The species utilizes both natural plants and agricultural crops as food sources (Schlimme 2000). Gestation period is 240 days (Gurung and Singh 1996). Brood size varies from 2-4 offsprings per year (Prater 1980). Young are born with their eyes open, and the body is covered by short soft quills. The Indian Porcupine is usually monogamous, with both parents being found in the burrow with their offspring throughout the year and average life span is 27.1 years (Schlimme 2000).