She devoted her entire life to giving a voice to animals who had none—and now, tragically, her own voice has gone silent.

Mikayla Raines, a cherished animal rescue advocate and beloved YouTube creator, has sadly passed away at just 29 years old. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by her husband, Ethan Raines, in a deeply emotional Instagram video shared on Monday, June 23. In the video, Ethan revealed that Mikayla had passed “a couple of days ago,” leaving millions of people devastated by the loss.

Please note: This article discusses sensitive topics related to suicide and mental health, which may be distressing for some readers.

Mikayla was the founder of Save A Fox, an animal rescue organization known across the country. She dedicated her life to saving voiceless, vulnerable animals from harm. Yet, in her own time of need, the cruelty of others weighed too heavily on her shoulders.

The 29-year-old wildlife advocate, social media icon, and founder of Save A Fox tragically took her own life, according to Ethan, who bravely shared their personal tragedy with the world. Fighting back tears, he described the unimaginable pain of losing his wife. “She was the most selfless person I have ever known,” Ethan said, his voice filled with sorrow. “Mikayla was the most incredible and inspiring person I’ve ever met. Her absence leaves this enormous emptiness in my heart… I feel completely broken.”

Mikayla never pursued fame. From the time she was 15 years old, she knew her purpose. Her journey began when she volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation center, quickly realizing her calling was to protect and care for animals who had been neglected or mistreated.

In 2017, she founded Save A Fox, which eventually became the largest fox rescue organization in the United States, with operations in Minnesota and Florida. Her mission was simple yet powerful: rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome injured, unwanted, or abused exotic animals, especially those saved from horrific fur farms.

Her work earned admiration from people around the world, and her online presence grew rapidly. On YouTube, she amassed 2.4 million subscribers, while over 558,000 followed her on Instagram, and millions more watched her on TikTok and Facebook. Yet behind the joyful videos of foxes, raccoons, and lemurs was a woman silently fighting battles few people knew about.

“She was never chasing attention or money,” Ethan emphasized in his tearful video. “From the time she was young, she poured every ounce of her energy into helping animals—whether that meant stopping to carry a turtle across the road or rescuing 500 foxes from cruel fur farms. This wasn’t about recognition. This was her life’s mission.”

Ethan shared that Mikayla had struggled with her mental health for years. She was diagnosed with autism, borderline personality disorder, and depression, and had worked hard to manage her conditions through therapy, medications, and community support. But as her online influence grew, so did the negativity she faced.

Ethan revealed that Mikayla became the victim of nonstop online bullying and harassment. What made it even worse was that many of the hurtful words came from within the animal rescue community itself—people she once trusted and considered friends.

“They made up lies about her,” Ethan said, describing the betrayal. “And because of how sensitive and caring she was, every word cut deep. She tried for years to fight through it, but in the end, it became too much to bear.”

Her greatest strength—her enormous empathy—was also her deepest vulnerability. “She had this rare, profound kindness toward every living thing,” Ethan explained. “That’s what made her an incredible rescuer and caregiver. But it also meant that every negative comment, every false rumor, stayed with her. She carried it all in her heart.”

The suddenness of her loss left everyone stunned. Just a day before her passing, Mikayla appeared on Instagram, smiling and laughing while interacting with a lemur, with Ethan lightheartedly joining in. There were no warning signs to indicate how much she was struggling beneath the surface.

Ethan described how he desperately tried to save her, performing CPR for 15 minutes before emergency services arrived. Despite their best efforts, it was too late. The weight of online harassment, combined with years of mental health struggles, had taken its final toll.

“She felt like the world turned against her,” Ethan said through tears. “It’s heartbreaking to think that someone so kind, someone who devoted every day of her life to helping animals, was met with so much cruelty.”

Ethan has vowed to continue Mikayla’s life’s work. “Her mission doesn’t end here,” he declared. “I will carry on her dream, and I hope you’ll stand beside me to keep saving animals in her name.”

Mikayla leaves behind not only a devastated husband but also a young daughter, Freya, who is now forced to grow up without her loving mother. “Freya’s heartbroken,” Ethan shared, “but I will remind her every day of the incredible person her mother was.”

Since the tragic news broke, tributes have poured in from animal lovers and organizations nationwide. One message from Juniper Wildlife Refuge read: “Many of us only have our foxes today because of Mikayla’s compassion and tireless efforts. Her light will live on in every life she touched.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, remember you are not alone. Support is available 24/7. Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for confidential help. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741. Help is out there—please don’t hesitate to reach out.