Mikayla Raines’s death explained.
Mikayla Raines, the viral force behind SaveAFox, has tragically taken her own life, her husband confirmed in an emotional, gut-wrenching video shared to their 2.5 million YouTube followers.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Mikayla founded SaveAFox in 2017 with a single goal: rescuing captive-bred foxes from fur farms and giving them a second chance at life.
She turned her backyard into a sanctuary, documenting every rescue, every recovery, every heartbreak. Fans flocked to her pages for fox cuddles and honest updates.
With her tattoos, pink hair, and eccentric energy, Mikayla made animal rescue cool—and accessible. But behind the scenes, she was burning out fast.
At home, Mikayla juggled her passion with parenting her young daughter, Freya, and navigating a demanding rescue schedule that rarely allowed time to breathe.
Raines’ legacy highlighted.
The 29-year-old built a massive following through her rescue work—bringing love, humor, and education to millions with her rescued foxes—but privately battled deep mental health struggles.
Husband’s statement exposed.
Her husband, Ethan, said Mikayla “felt as if the entire world had turned against her,” blaming years of targeted online hate and “ridiculous claims” from former friends and rival sanctuaries.
In a raw, unscripted message, Ethan reveals that Mikayla was on the autism spectrum and had been diagnosed with both depression and borderline personality disorder.
“She was always in and out of therapy,” Ethan said, “but nothing ever really helped. The hate online broke her down in ways most people will never understand.”
According to Ethan, many of the attacks came from people she once trusted—including other animal rescuers. “They spread lies, twisted her words, made her question everything.”
Over the last few years, Ethan says a targeted smear campaign painted Mikayla as “cruel,” “greedy,” and “manipulative”—despite dedicating her life to saving animals.
While followers saw a bubbly, quirky animal lover dancing with foxes, Mikayla was enduring sleepless nights, public betrayal, and the crushing weight of online judgment.
Critics accused her of exploiting animals for clout—claims Ethan called “ludicrous” and devastating to someone who spent her life bottle-feeding injured wildlife.
Ethan explained that Mikayla didn’t have the armor that public figures often grow. “She felt everything. Every word. Every message. It stayed with her.”
In the most heartbreaking part of the video, Ethan asks the one question no one can answer: “Why? Why does someone who gave so much have to hurt so deeply?”
“People think comments don’t matter. But she read them. She believed them,” Ethan said. “What you say online becomes someone’s inner voice.”
Mikayla’s final moments clarified.
Ethan said she was “one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known,” and that losing her has left a literal hole in his chest. “Everything feels empty.”
Ethan recalled the moment he found her. “I tried CPR for 15 minutes until first responders came. I watched them try to revive her. I’ll never forget it.”
“To those of you that pushed her to this—I wish you had to feel what I felt. I wish you saw our daughter trying to understand why her mommy isn’t coming back.”
“She’s so little,” Ethan said, voice cracking. “She doesn’t understand. How could she? I don’t even understand. None of this makes sense.”
Ethan’s promise confirmed.
Despite the loss, Ethan promised that SaveAFox will live on. “I have to see her dreams realized. It’s what she would’ve wanted.”
“She wasn’t perfect,” Ethan admitted. “But she never pretended to be. She just wanted to help. Even when she was hurting.”
Those were Ethan’s words—and they’ve echoed across social media like a haunting epitaph. “She didn’t deserve this. No one does.”
Reactions to Ethan’s message unveiled.
Ethan’s video has since gone viral, prompting conversations around mental health, online bullying, and how unchecked gossip can lead to irreversible tragedy.
Sanctuaries and supporters across the world have posted tributes. Many admit the online bullying problem in the rescue world is “real and rampant.”
A longtime fan wrote: “She turned her trauma into healing for others—human and animal. And some people just couldn’t stand to see her shine.”
Many followers are now grappling with guilt. “Did I say enough to lift her up?” one commenter asked. “Was I part of the problem?”
#JusticeForMikayla and #WordsMatter began trending on X (formerly Twitter), as fans demanded more protections for creators facing targeted harassment.
Rest in Peace, Mikayla.
“If you’re struggling, please talk to someone,” he said. “You never know who’s drowning behind the smile.”
The video ends with Ethan clutching one of her foxes. “I’ll keep going for you. I’ll fight for what you believed in. I miss you so much.”
She was fierce. She was flawed. She was real. And now, she’s gone. But her story—and her foxes—will carry her legacy forward.