Ethan Raines, husband of YouTuber and Save a Fox founder Mikayla Raines, shared heartbreaking news of her passing in an emotional video on June 23, 2025. He revealed that Mikayla, who had long struggled with depression and borderline personality disorder, died by suicide after enduring years of online bullying and personal pain.
“She was deeply sensitive,” Ethan said, “and while that made her incredibly empathetic, it also meant she absorbed every cruel word.” Despite years of attacks—some from others in the animal rescue world—Mikayla continued her mission to rescue foxes and educate the public. But this time, Ethan explained, “it went too far.”
Mikayla’s death triggered an outpouring of grief online. Fans, fellow rescuers, and supporters praised her compassion, strength, and the legacy she leaves behind—both through her rescue work and her daughter, Freya.
Mikayla’s passion began at age 15 after meeting her first fox. She later left college to dedicate her life to saving animals, eventually rescuing hundreds, including a large-scale operation to shut down a fur farm. Though she’s gone, her mission lives on through the animals she saved and the countless people she inspired.