By Dominique Mosbergen, The Huffington Post

Dennis Avner, better known by his Native American name "Stalking Cat," died on Nov. 5. He was 54.

Avner, who underwent extensive body modification to transform himself into a big cat, is believed to have committed suicide in his hometown of Tonopah, Nev., the New York Daily News reports. The cause of his death has yet to be confirmed, however.

The Nye County Sheriff's Office confirmed Avner's death to The Huffington Post but was not able to provide additional details.

According to Jodie Michalak of About.com, Avner, who is of Native American descent, had "felt his spirit…called to the wild and [had] made it his goal to modify his body in honor of the tiger," his totem animal.  Read more at The Huffington Post