Mikayla Raines, the beloved YouTube personality renowned for her wildlife rescue sanctuary Save a Fox, has tragically passed away at the age of 29. On June 23, her husband, Ethan, shared the heart-wrenching news via a YouTube video, revealing that Raines had died by suicide.
Ethan remembered his wife as a “superhero” who dedicated her life to rescuing hundreds of captive-born foxes, describing her as an “amazing wife and a wonderful caring mother.” Raines founded Save a Fox in Minnesota in 2017 at just 20 years old. Through her engaging social media presence, she documented the lives of the foxes she rescued, amassing 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube and over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
In his emotional tribute, Ethan highlighted Raines’s unwavering commitment to animals: “From a young age, she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them, whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm. She was never in it for fame, money, or personal gain. She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.”
Ethan revealed that Raines faced mental health challenges throughout her life, including depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder. He reflected, “As many of you know, she was on the autism spectrum, and while that made her life very difficult, it allowed her to hyperfocus on one thing—animals.”
He also described her deeply empathetic nature, stating, “She was so sensitive to everything, which is a double-edged sword because, on one hand, it allowed her endless empathy for those in her care. But it also means that she took everything negative to heart.”
Ethan claimed that Raines fell victim to an alleged “online bullying campaign” from various sources, including strangers, fellow wildlife rescue members, and acquaintances. He vowed to continue running the Save a Fox sanctuary in honor of Raines and strive to achieve her goal of rescuing 500 foxes from fur farms.
Mikayla Raines is survived by her husband and their daughter, Freya.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress or struggling to cope, support is available. In the UK and ROI, you can confidentially reach the Samaritans at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website for local branch details. In the USA, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers assistance 24/7 at 988 or 988lifeline.org for online chat. For those in other countries, visit www.befrienders.org to find local helplines.