Additional Coverage:
Tragedy Strikes Animal Rescue Community as Mikayla Raines Dies at 29
The animal rescue community is mourning the loss of Mikayla Raines, a prominent activist and YouTube star, who died by suicide on Monday. She was 29. Her husband, Ethan Raines, shared the devastating news in an emotional video posted to her YouTube channel.
Raines, who founded the Minnesota-based nonprofit SaveAFox Rescue in 2017, dedicated her life to rescuing foxes from fur farms and finding them loving homes. The organization has saved over 150 foxes since its inception. Her work garnered a substantial following on social media, with over 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube and hundreds of thousands more across other platforms.
According to her husband, Raines had struggled with mental health issues for years and was deeply affected by online criticism. In the video announcement, a heartbroken Ethan Raines described performing CPR on his wife for fifteen minutes before paramedics arrived.
He directly addressed those who contributed to her pain, expressing his wish that they could understand the depth of her suffering and his own grief. He also pleaded with viewers to reach out to loved ones who may be struggling and to seek help if they themselves are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Despite the immense loss, Ethan Raines vowed to continue his wife’s work at SaveAFox Rescue, ensuring her legacy lives on. He expressed confidence that with continued support, the organization will persevere and bring more light to the world in Mikayla’s honor. He requested privacy for himself and his family, which includes the couple’s young daughter, Freya, who frequently appeared alongside her mother on social media.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.