YouTube Star Mikayla Raines, Founder of Save A Fox, Dies by Suicide at 29

Mikayla Raines, the widely beloved YouTube creator and founder of the animal rescue nonprofit Save A Fox, has died by suicide at the age of 29. Known for her unrelenting dedication to saving foxes and other exotic animals, Raines’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through the online animal advocacy community and raised new concerns about the mental health toll of online harassment.

Her husband, Ethan, confirmed her passing in an emotional video shared on social media, describing a long battle with mental health challenges and a sustained campaign of online bullying that he believes ultimately contributed to her death.

A Life Devoted to Animals

Born on March 5, 1996, Mikayla Raines began her journey in animal rescue at the age of 15, volunteering with a local wildlife rehabilitator. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion for animal welfare. In 2016, at just 20 years old, she founded Save A Fox, a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota and Florida that became the largest fox rescue operation in the United States.

The organization quickly garnered attention online for its touching videos and educational content about foxes rescued from fur farms, exotic pet situations, and other unsafe environments. Her YouTube channel grew to over 2.4 million subscribers, while her Instagram page amassed more than half a million followers. Her videos, often showing rescued foxes playing, bonding, and healing, made her a beacon of compassion in a world hungry for hope and humanity.

But behind the scenes, Raines was fighting a private battle with mental illness and the toxic effects of online cruelty.

The Toll of Bullying and Mental Health Struggles

In a heartfelt, 11-minute video announcing Mikayla’s death, her husband Ethan detailed the emotional turmoil she had endured.

“They spread false rumors, and being the sensitive person she was, it deeply affected her,” he said, referring to the cyberbullying Mikayla experienced from both strangers and individuals within the animal rescue community—some of whom she had once considered friends.

“She tried for years to push through the pain, but this time it was too much,” Ethan added, visibly shaken.

He also revealed that Mikayla had been diagnosed with autism and borderline personality disorder, conditions that made social interactions and emotional regulation especially challenging. Despite undergoing years of therapy and trying various medications, she continued to struggle with depression and internalized much of the hurt inflicted by others online.

“As many of you know, she was on the autism spectrum, and while that made her life very difficult, it also allowed her to hyperfocus on one thing—and that one thing was animals,” Ethan said.

A Legacy of Selflessness

Those who knew Mikayla or followed her work remember her as someone driven not by fame or profit, but by a pure desire to help 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,” Ethan shared. “She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.”

He described her death as “a loss that is unimaginable,” adding that without her, “everything feels empty.”

Despite the profound grief, Ethan vowed to continue the work of Save A Fox in her honor, ensuring that her mission and the lives she touched—both human and animal—would not be forgotten.

An Outpouring of Grief and Tributes

Tributes from fans, fellow rescue organizations, and animal lovers poured in following the news of Mikayla’s death.

Juniper Wildlife Refuge, a fellow animal rescue nonprofit, posted a moving tribute: “So many in our community have foxes that only came to us because of Mikayla’s dedication to her mission and empathy toward animals. We will all carry a small piece of her light that lives on through them.”

Social media has since been flooded with messages from supporters sharing stories of how Mikayla’s videos inspired them, educated them about fox welfare, or simply brought joy during dark times. Many called for greater awareness around mental health and the devastating impact of cyberbullying.

Remembering Mikayla

Mikayla Raines is survived by her husband Ethan, their young daughter Freya, and the countless animals she cared for during her lifetime. Her story is a stark reminder of the invisible battles many fight behind the screen, and the high emotional cost that often comes with living a public life online.

Her legacy, however, is etched in the lives she saved, the hearts she touched, and the awareness she brought to animal welfare.

“Mikayla didn’t just rescue animals,” Ethan said. “She built a community that believed in kindness, in second chances, and in loving without conditions.”

As tributes continue to pour in, one thing is clear: Mikayla Raines’s light may have dimmed, but it will not be forgotten.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone.