Mikayla Raines, Save A Fox Founder, Dies by Suicide After Mental Health Struggles and Online Harassment
Mikayla Raines, the kind-hearted founder of the popular animal rescue group Save A Fox and a well-loved YouTuber, has sadly passed away. Her husband, Ethan Raines, shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional video posted to the Save A Fox YouTube channel on June 23, 2025.
Mikayla was known for her deep love of animals, especially foxes. She spent years rescuing and caring for them, turning her passion into a full-time mission that touched the lives of thousands of people and animals alike.
In the video, Ethan explained that Mikayla had taken her own life after a long battle with mental health issues. She had been diagnosed with depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder, and had been trying for years to manage her struggles through therapy and medication. But, as Ethan shared, the pain became too heavy to carry.
“She was doing everything she could,” Ethan said through tears. “But this time, it was too much for her.”
Ethan also spoke about how Mikayla had been the target of harsh online bullying. He said the hurtful messages and false rumors came not just from strangers, but even from some people in her personal life and from others involved in the animal rescue world.
“She was sensitive and caring — those words and lies hit her hard,” he said. “She tried for so long to keep going.”
Mikayla leaves behind her husband Ethan, their young daughter Freya, and the many animals she looked after at the Save A Fox rescues in Minnesota and Florida.
Despite the pain of losing her, Ethan said he plans to keep Mikayla’s dream alive by continuing the work she started. “She gave everything she had to these animals. I will make sure her legacy lives on,” he said.
Fans and animal lovers from around the world have shared their heartbreak and support, remembering Mikayla as someone who truly made a difference. Many posted stories of how she inspired them to care more about animals, and how her videos brought comfort and joy.
Mikayla’s loss is being felt deeply by her community, both online and in the real world. But through her work, her kindness, and the animals she saved, her spirit will live on.