Who was Mikayla Raines?
Mikayla Raines was born on March 5, 1996. She is the founder of SaveAFox Rescue, a nonprofit organization located in Minnesota that focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating foxes and various exotic animals, mainly from fur farms, pet surrenders, and hoarding circumstances.
Her love for animals began at the age of 15 when she commenced her volunteer work with a wildlife rehabilitator. This formative experience eventually motivated her to create SaveAFox in 2016. With her leadership, the organization developed into the largest fox rescue in the United States.
As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, Mikayla had developed a robust online presence. Her YouTube channel, which attracted millions of viewers, displayed the lives of rescued foxes, including beloved figures like Finnegan Fox and Dixie Do.
Mikayla Raines’ Cause of Death
Mikayla Raines, a YouTuber and the founder of the Save A Fox organization, tragically took her own life at the age of 29 on Monday. This information was verified by her husband, Ethan Raines.
In a video shared on Save A Fox’s YouTube and Instagram channels, Mikayla Raines’ husband, Ethan, stated that she had been dealing with serious mental health difficulties, including depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder.
He noted that, even after years of therapy and various medications, she continued to face challenges in managing the demands of daily living.
He said,
“As many of you know she was on the autism spectrum and while that made her life very difficult it allowed her to hyperfocus on one thing and that one thing was obviously animals.
From a young age she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them, whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm. She was never in it for fame money or personal gain. She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.”
Ethan finally revealed that Mikyala had been a victim of sustained online harassment. The individuals reportedly behind this campaign included unknown individuals, those she was acquainted with in her personal life, and even other animal sanctuaries.
Despite the psychological challenges posed by online harassment, Ethan expressed that his wife was able to push through and rescue hundreds of animals.
Eventually, the situation worsened as people she considered close friends began to utter the most hurtful things, leading her to feel as though the entire world had turned against her. Raines then affirmed that the mental strain of these events ultimately led Mikayla to take her own life.
