YouTube Star Mikayla Raines Dies by Suicide at 29 After Cyberbullying

The online community is mourning the tragic death of Mikayla Raines, the founder of Save A Fox and a beloved wildlife rescuer. Mikayla, aged 29, died by suicide after facing years of online harassment.

Her husband, Ethan, confirmed the heartbreaking news in an emotional video shared online. He revealed that Mikayla had been the target of severe cyberbullying. The abuse, he said, came from many people — strangers, people in the animal rescue world, and even some close to her.

“They spread lies and rumors,” Ethan shared. “She tried for years to fight through the pain, but it became too much.”

Mikayla founded Save A Fox in 2016 when she was just 20 years old. Her mission was to rescue and rehabilitate foxes and exotic animals. Over the years, her passion helped rescue more than 500 foxes from fur farms and poor living conditions.

Her organization grew rapidly. Today, Save A Fox has over 2.4 million YouTube subscribers and half a million Instagram followers. The rescue operates in both Minnesota and Florida.

Ethan explained that Mikayla struggled with mental health challenges, including autism, borderline personality disorder, and depression. He said these struggles became worse because of the constant bullying.

“She was never after fame or money. Mikayla only cared about animals,” Ethan said tearfully. “She was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known.”

He described her as someone who helped everything from turtles crossing roads to foxes living in cages. Her deep love for animals began at age 15 when she first volunteered with a wildlife rehabilitator.

The couple’s daughter, Freya, now survives Mikayla along with Ethan. He said, “Not having her here makes everything feel empty. I feel broken.”

After her death was announced, fans and fellow rescuers flooded social media with condolences. The account Juniper the Fox posted a tribute, saying, “So many foxes found homes because of Mikayla’s love and light. She changed lives.”

Another animal rescuer, @kinkatopia, wrote: “Mikayla inspired me more than 10 years ago. I hope this opens a conversation about online bullying in the animal community. It has to stop.”