Mikayla Raines Cause of Death and Mental Health Warrior

Mikayla Raines was a woman whose life was defined by compassion for animals, for nature, and for those without a voice. As the founder of the nonprofit organization SaveAFox, she dedicated her young life to rescuing and rehabilitating foxes from fur farms and private ownership. Tragically, on a Monday in 2025, the world lost Mikayla to suicide at the age of 29. Her passing sent shockwaves through the animal rescue community, sparking conversations about mental health, online harassment, and the enduring strength of her legacy.

Mikayla Raines Cause of Death and Mental Health Warrior

Contents

Early Life and Passion for Animals

Mikayla’s love for animals blossomed early. At just 15 years old, she bottle-fed and raised a baby gray fox. That experience sparked a deep passion within her and set the course for a life centered around animal rehabilitation. Unlike many teenagers whose interests shift with time, Mikayla’s devotion to wildlife only intensified. Her early interaction with the fox didn’t just nurture a creature it nurtured a dream.

Mikayla Raines Cause of Death and Mental Health Warrior

This early encounter awakened in Mikayla a strong sense of empathy and responsibility. While others may have dismissed the experience as a teenage whim, she saw it as a calling. Her desire to protect and heal animals, particularly those misunderstood or mistreated, grew into a life mission.

Founding of SaveAFox

At the age of 20, Mikayla founded SaveAFox, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that rescues captive-born foxes from fur farms, breeders, and failed domestic situations. The organization provided a sanctuary for these foxes, allowing them to live out their lives in a loving, enriched environment. Over the years, SaveAFox successfully rescued and cared for more than 150 foxes.

Mikayla Raines Cause of Death and Mental Health Warrior

What made SaveAFox unique was not just its mission, but its visibility. Mikayla used social media, especially YouTube and TikTok, to share the stories of the foxes in her care. These videos offered glimpses into the lives of the animals, showcasing their intelligence, quirks, and relationships. As a result, Mikayla became a prominent figure in the online animal welfare space, building a dedicated community of followers and supporters.

Her husband, Ethan Raines, said it best: “She was never held back by ideas that everyone else considered unrealistic.” Mikayla’s dream, born in adolescence, had blossomed into a movement.

Personal Struggles Beneath the Surface

While Mikayla’s public persona radiated joy and enthusiasm, few knew the full extent of her personal battles. According to her husband, Mikayla was on the autism spectrum a trait that, while challenging, gave her the ability to hyper-focus on animal care with extraordinary dedication.

She was also diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a complex mental health condition characterized by emotional instability, impulsive behaviors, intense mood swings, and difficulty in relationships. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, individuals with BPD are particularly vulnerable to self-harm and suicide, with up to 10% dying by suicide.

“She was always in and out of different kinds of therapy, trying various mood stabilizers and meds,” Ethan revealed. “But nothing really seemed to help. Looking at her from the outside, you could never tell what was going on in her head.”

Despite this, Mikayla kept showing up every day for the animals that depended on her.

Online Harassment and Public Scrutiny

In the age of digital connectivity, Mikayla’s rising visibility unfortunately brought with it unwanted attention. Over the years, a small group of individuals some of whom she had known personally began spreading harmful rumors and accusations about her and SaveAFox. The criticism, largely baseless, grew in intensity and took a toll on Mikayla’s mental health.

Her husband recounted how the negativity weighed heavily on her: “Being the sensitive human she was, Mikayla took it all to heart, and it hurt her.” The harassment wasn’t limited to strangers it came from former friends and people she had once trusted.

As the attacks became more personal, Mikayla’s sense of safety and belonging began to erode. Despite continuing to rescue animals and care for their daughter, Freya, the emotional burden grew unbearable. Ethan described how she felt as though “the entire world had turned against her.”

The Final Moments

On the day Mikayla took her life, her husband Ethan found her unresponsive and immediately began performing CPR. He continued for 15 minutes until paramedics arrived. Tragically, it was too late.

Her death left not only her family and supporters in mourning but also the dozens of animals who had lost their devoted caretaker. As Ethan heartbreakingly said, “Every single animal here just lost their best friend.”

Carrying Her Legacy Forward

Mikayla’s story did not end with her passing. Her husband has vowed to continue her life’s work, pledging to keep SaveAFox alive and thriving. “Despite this being the biggest loss of my life and feeling like I have a literal hole in my chest, I will not let Mikayla’s light be extinguished,” he said.

Ethan’s dedication is more than a tribute it’s a continuation of a dream that began when Mikayla was just a teenager with a bottle and a baby fox. He has committed to rescuing more animals, particularly those still trapped in fur farms, and expanding the sanctuary’s impact.

Mental Health Awareness and A Call for Compassion

In the wake of Mikayla’s death, Ethan shared her story not only to honor her legacy but also to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. He urged others experiencing feelings of hopelessness to seek help and reminded the public of the power of empathy.

“If you are feeling lost and hopeless, please reach out to someone whether it’s friends and family or calling a hotline,” Ethan pleaded. “To everyone else, please please keep an eye on those around you.”

His message was clear: we must do better. Online cruelty, unchecked assumptions, and public shaming have real-world consequences. We must learn to lead with kindness, especially when the pain of others is invisible.

Mikayla Raines was more than a founder, more than a rescuer she was a visionary whose love for animals touched countless lives. From a teenage girl nurturing a fox to a woman who built a nationwide rescue movement, her journey was as inspiring as it was tragic.

Though her life ended far too soon, her legacy continues in every fox saved, every animal sheltered, and every person inspired by her story. Let us honor her memory not only by supporting SaveAFox but by creating a world where compassion is the norm, and where no one feels alone in their suffering.

In remembering Mikayla Raines, we remember the light she brought to the world and we vow never to let it fade.

World News -