It inhabits dry deciduous forests, scrub forests, grasslands, uncultivated areas, undisturbed barren open areas. In Turkey, it appears to prefer uncultivated arid and semi-arid habitats with soft soil and dry river slopes (Yi?it et al. 2001). Terrestrial and fossorial; makes extensive burrows, depending on surrounding soils, with chambers for resting, food storage, and sleeping. Territorial, individuals live in separate burrows and canabalistic mainly on juveniles (Menon 2003). Omnivorous. Diets include grains, seeds, plants, roots, insects, reptiles and even small birds and mammals it can catch up (Yapa and Ratnavira 2013).

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.