YouTuber & Save a Fox Founder Mikayla Raines Passes Away – Devastated Husband's Heartbreaking Announcement

The animal advocate's husband strongly defended her memory, condemning those who targeted her with lies and online bullying. He reminded people that she had struggled with depression and was a deeply sensitive soul.

Ethan announced the death of his wife, Mikayla Raines, the Save a Fox Founder, in an emotional video. The almost 12-minute footage was posted on social media on June 23, 2025.

In the clip, Ethan appeared heartbroken as he began speaking through visible pain. "This is a video I never planned on making, and it's completely devastating having to sit down and write this out. But a couple of days ago, Mikayla Raines passed away," he said.

Fighting back tears, Ethan explained that this was the most painful and difficult time of his life and asked viewers to be patient as he tried to read through his emotions.

He spoke about the YouTuber's nature and the weight she carried inside. "She was so sensitive to everything, which is a double-edged sword — on one hand it allowed her endless empathy for those in her care, but it also means that she took everything negative to heart," he shared.

Ethan further explained that for years, certain individuals — including some from other animal sanctuaries — tried to damage Mikayla's name and the rescue she built. Though their harsh words and false stories deeply hurt her, she kept going.

The pain from these attacks stayed with her, but she kept trying to move forward, even when it was hard. Alongside that, Mikayla, who also battled depression, lived with borderline personality disorder, which brought emotional ups and downs, along with impulsive behaviors that made her struggles even heavier.

Ethan added, "But this time, it went too far. She couldn't bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life. It breaks my heart that someone who was selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her."

The sorrow surrounding Mikayla's passing continued to spread, touching many who had followed her journey and admired her work with animals.

Following the heartbreaking announcement, emotional messages filled the comment section of Ethan's video. One person wrote, "Ethan I'm so sorry. I am speechless and devastated. Wish [sic] I could find the right words to say. Thank you for continuing Mikayla's dream and I will continue to support and sponsor you guys!!"

Another person shared, "This is so unbelievably devastating. I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss, and for all the animals who lost their champion."

Messages of comfort and admiration flowed in as more people reacted to the painful news. One person shared how deeply sorry they were for the loss and said Mikayla had done more in her short life than a thousand others could.

They praised her for saving countless animals and mentioned that many people around the world were proud of her and were sending support. Another individual spoke about the rescue community losing someone truly special.

They called Mikayla a driven soul and acknowledged the strength it must have taken for Ethan to share such heartbreaking news. Alongside the many messages of love, Mikayla's own words shared on her website gave a glimpse into how her journey began.

She said her love for animals had always been strong, but everything changed at 15 after meeting her first fox while volunteering with a wildlife rehabber. Though Mikayla never expected to start a rescue or care for many foxes, things shifted in 2015 when she was given a captive-born red fox to raise.

Naming her Farrah Foxett, she felt her world open in new ways. Her eagerness to share Farrah's life led her to discover fur farms — something she hadn't known existed in the U.S. Saving three fox pups from one of these farms marked the beginning of her rescue journey.

Though the animal lover had once studied to be a vet tech, she chose to leave college so she could save foxes full-time. Choosing to step away from college was only the beginning for Mikayla, who poured everything into rescuing foxes and changing their fate.

Her efforts left a lasting mark, and the sadness following her passing was deeply felt across the animal care community. In a heartfelt Facebook post, someone from For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue spoke about the deep loss felt in the animal care world. The post described Mikayla as someone deeply committed to saving animals, especially foxes.

Though they weren't close, their paths crossed often, and they had many mutual friends. About a year ago, Mikayla was given a chance to close a fur farm and rescue 500 foxes. The cages were offered at a low cost, and the animals would be free.

She worked hard to find homes and medical care for them. But many of the foxes, scared of people, were hard to place. While some went to zoos and sanctuaries, many remained with Mikayla, who didn't have enough space or support to care for them all.

The tribute continued with a message of support for those grieving her loss, "To all who knew Mikayla, please accept our deepest, most heartfelt condolences for your unimaginable loss. We at For Fox Sake are thinking of you in this difficult time and here for you."

Just a day before the heartbreaking news, a video shared on Mikayla's Instagram showed a moment of joy. She had brought home a lemur and looked joyful as she fed it in the kitchen, with Ethan capturing the moment on camera. In another clip, she gently patted the animal in the bedroom, then clapped with a smile on her face.

Away from the camera, Mikayla was also guiding her daughter, Freya, to understand and respect wildlife. She often mentioned that people asked if foxes could be around children, but it wasn't easy to answer. Many kids, she explained, weren't taught how to treat animals gently.

However, her child grew up knowing how to be calm, listen, and keep her distance when needed. She learned that not every animal enjoys touch, and some might bite or scratch.

Mikayla dedicated her life to saving animals and teaching others to respect them, even while carrying a silent pain. Her legacy lives on through her rescue work, her daughter, and the many lives she touched.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.