Mikayla Raines, founder of Save A Fox Rescue, died by suicide on June 21, 2025, at the age of 29. She was known for rescuing hundreds of foxes from fur farms and building one of the most followed animal rescue communities on YouTube and social media.
Mikayla had over 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube and thousands of followers on Instagram. Her work at Save A Fox included rehabilitation, rehoming, and educating people about captive-born foxes, making her a well-known figure in the animal rescue space.
Her husband, Ethan Raines, confirmed in a statement that Mikayla had been struggling with severe mental health issues, including depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder. These conditions were worsened by constant cyberbullying and harassment from online users, critics, and even individuals from the animal rescue community.
According to Ethan, the harassment included spreading false rumors, personal attacks, and public negativity that deeply affected Mikayla’s emotional state. He shared that she had been emotionally overwhelmed for years, and despite her work to save animals, she could not save herself from the mental toll caused by online abuse.
Ethan revealed she left behind no suicide note but had communicated her distress multiple times. He attempted CPR before emergency responders arrived.
Ethan Raines has confirmed that Save A Fox Rescue will continue to operate in Mikayla’s memory. He has since appeared in emotional videos walking Mikayla’s favorite fox, Finnegan, to honor her legacy.
