Beloved Save A Fox Founder Mikayla Raines Dies at 29 After Cyberbullying and Mental Health Struggle
FARIBAULT, Minn. — Ethan Raines’ hands shook as he pressed record. Fifteen hours earlier, he had performed CPR on his wife’s lifeless body for 15 excruciating minutes. Now, facing 2.4 million YouTube subscribers, he delivered words that shattered a global community: “Mikayla Raines passed away. She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life”
🦊 The Superhero Who Saved Foxes
Mikayla Raines, founder of Minnesota’s renowned Save A Fox rescue, died by suicide on June 21, 2025, at age 29. She launched the nonprofit in 2017 at just 20 years old, transforming a single fox rescue into America’s largest sanctuary for fur-farm survivors. Her YouTube channel, featuring playful foxes like Finnegan and Dixie Do, amassed 2.4 million followers and funded over 150 rescues
“She dedicated every waking hour to animals—whether helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes,” Ethan said in his viral 11-minute video. “She was never in it for fame. She was truly the most selfless person I’ve known”
Mikayla’s autism, which Ethan described as a “double-edged sword,” fueled her extraordinary empathy but also made her “so sensitive to everything.” While it enabled her to hyperfocus on animal care, it left her defenseless against cruelty.
💔 The Bullying Campaign That Broke Her
For years, Mikayla endured an online harassment campaign from strangers, rival animal sanctuaries, and even close friends. “They spread ridiculous claims and rumors,” Ethan revealed, his voice breaking. “Being the sensitive human she was, Mikayla took it all to heart”
Recent weeks escalated the torment when people “she considered close friends” joined the attacks. Amid fresh waves of “rude words, accusations, and name-calling,” Mikayla felt “like the entire world had turned against her”
Despite therapy and medication for her depression and borderline personality disorder—conditions she openly discussed to destigmatize mental health—the barrage became unbearable. “Nothing seemed to help,” Ethan confessed. “Simple tasks were hard. Socializing sent her over the edge”
😢 A Family’s Anguish and a Rescue’s Future
Ethan’s video exposed raw grief:
- He described performing CPR while awaiting paramedics
- Shared their young daughter Freya’s heartbreak: “She tries to understand why she can’t see mommy again”
- Condemned bullies: “I wish you had to feel what she felt”
Yet he vowed to continue Mikayla’s mission: “I will not let her light be extinguished.” His plans include rescuing 500 foxes from a fur farm—her lifelong dream.
A Wake-Up Call on Cyberbullying
Mental health advocates stress this tragedy underscores a deadly crisis: Online harassment can be lethal, especially for neurodivergent individuals.
Table: Mikayla’s Legacy and Mental Health Advocacy
| Her Struggle | Her Impact |
|---|---|
| Autism, depression, BPD | Founded largest U.S. fox rescue at 20 |
| Years of cyberbullying | 2.4M YouTube followers supporting animal welfare |
| Openly discussed mental health | Destigmatized neurodivergence in advocacy spaces |
Wildlife rescuer Miranda Sanders echoed global tributes, calling Mikayla “one of the most selfless, purehearted souls” while condemning her tormentors.
How to Honor Mikayla
Ethan urges supporters to:
- Donate to Save A Fox to continue her rescues. WebSite : www.saveafox.org
- Combat cyberbullying: “Look for signs in struggling loved ones. Say something before it’s too late”
- Use crisis resources: Call/text 988 or text “STRENGTH” to 741741
As the animal rescue community mourns, Ethan’s parting words resonate: “In a world filled with darkness, she was just light”. That light now flickers in every fox given a second chance—and in a plea for kindness that might save others walking her same painful path.