Words can wound deeper than we realize, and for Mikayla Raines, a vibrant YouTuber and animal lover, they became too heavy to bear. Mikayla, the 31-year-old founder of Save A Fox Rescue, died by suicide on June 23, 2025, after enduring months of cruel online harassment, her husband, Ethan Raines, shared in a gut-wrenching video. Known for her infectious passion for rescuing foxes, Mikayla’s death has left fans heartbroken and sparked urgent calls to address cyberbullying.
Mikayla’s love for animals started young. At 15, she met her first fox while volunteering for a wildlife rehabber, a moment that changed her life. She went on to create Save A Fox, a nonprofit running sanctuaries in Minnesota and Florida to save foxes from fur farms and pet surrenders. Her YouTube channel brought her mission to millions, with videos like one of a fox playfully snatching her phone racking up over 16 million views. Her work even caught Hollywood’s attention, with Dreamworks featuring one of her foxes’ voices in The Wild Robot.
But behind her bright smile, Mikayla was fighting a private battle. She lived with depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder, which made everyday life a challenge, Ethan explained. The relentless online attacks made things worse. Strangers, personal contacts, and even rival sanctuaries targeted her with false rumors and vicious name-calling, especially on platforms like Reddit. Ethan said she felt like “the entire world had turned against her.” Despite seeking therapy and trying medications, the harassment took a devastating toll.
In an emotional 11-minute video, Ethan vowed to carry on Mikayla’s mission, rescuing foxes and expanding Save A Fox in her honor. He called her “the most amazing and inspiring person” he’d ever known, asking fans to support the cause she loved. Social media has been flooded with tributes from fans who say her videos brought them joy and inspired them to care for animals.
Mikayla’s story is a painful wake-up call about the harm of online hate. Fans are now urging platforms to crack down on cyberbullying, pointing to toxic online spaces that targeted her. Her death reminds us all to choose kindness over cruelty in our digital interactions.
Those who harassed her should be prosecuted. They extinguished a shining light who devoted her life to helping vulnerable animals. She made the world a better place. Those who hurt her add nothing to this world. On the contrary – they detract from it.
Agreed