YouTuber Mikayla Raines Dies by Suicide: Husband’s Emotional Tribute
Brace yourself: YouTuber and wildlife rescuer Mikayla Raines took her own life at 29 after enduring relentless online attacks, leaving fans and the animal community in shock. In an emotional video posted June 23 on SaveAFox’s social channels, her husband, Ethan Raines, confirmed that cruelty she faced on social media became too much to bear. “This time it went too far—she couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer and she ended her life,” he said through tears, revealing he performed CPR on her for 15 minutes before paramedics arrived.
Mikayla launched SaveAFox rescue and animal sanctuary in Minnesota and quickly built a loyal following by sharing her mission to save abandoned foxes and other wildlife victims. Beyond rescue missions, she was open about her own battles with anxiety and depression, often educating her half-million–plus subscribers about mental health. Yet despite her transparency, she became the target of “ridiculous claims and rumors,” Ethan noted. “She was so sensitive to everything,” he added. “On one hand, it allowed her endless empathy for those in her care, but she took every negative comment to heart.”
Ethan paid tribute to his wife’s unwavering dedication: “She pushed through for years, rescues and mental health struggles alike, and still changed hundreds of lives.” He praised her ability to balance animal advocacy with daughter Freya’s upbringing. Friends and fellow creators, including several prominent wildlife influencers and mental health advocates, have poured out condolences on Instagram and Twitter, sharing throwback clips of Mikayla cuddling orphaned fox kits.
Public records show SaveAFox has rescued more than 200 foxes and raised over $150,000 for habitat restoration since its 2017 founding. In the wake of Mikayla’s passing, Ethan announced a public memorial service at the sanctuary and vowed to carry on the rescue’s mission. “Her legacy is SaveAFox,” he said. “Despite her being the most important part of that, I’m not going to let it stop here. I will do whatever I can to see SaveAFox keep moving forward.”
Suicide prevention experts emphasize the importance of online kindness and compassion; The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that lost lives like Mikayla’s highlight how digital harassment can exacerbate mental health crises. As fans continue to share Mikayla’s rescue videos and mental health insights in tribute, one question remains: will platforms and followers learn to curb toxicity before it claims another light?
That’s the story for now—absorb it, share it wisely, and keep an eye on SaveAFox’s next chapter.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
