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Save a Fox founder Mikayla Raines' husband continues to mourn her tragic demise.
The YouTuber, who founded the Minnesota-based rescue organization, died by suicide, her husband has revealed. He took to the organization’s Instagram and YouTube pages to share a video, where he can be seen sporting a SaveAFox T-shirt.
“This is a video I never planned on making and it’s completely devastating having to sit down and write this out,” he said, adding that he did not obtain the board's approval before posting the video. He continued, reflecting on his late wife's legacy, before revealing that she was on the autism spectrum.
In his Instagram bio, Ethan Raines describes himself as a “Father, husband, animal rescuer, car-builder, handyman, video editor, toilet clogger." Not much else is known about him, though according to news outlets, his late wife credited him with helping run the rescue.
“He is just as much running this rescue as I am...if not more because he's taken a lot of responsibilities off my plate,” she penned in a September 2021 post on Instagram.
Mikayla Raines' life and legacy explored as her husband claims it was bullying that caused her to take her own life:
In his 11-minute video, Ethan reflected on Mikayla Raines' life and legacy:
“Mikayla was the most bright and shining example of what you could accomplish if you really set your mind to something,” he said. “She was never held by ideas that everyone else considered unrealistic.”
He said she was a “superhero” who rescued hundreds of foxes born in captivity and was “an amazing wife and a wonderful caring mother."
Per The Independent, Mikayla Raines founded Save a Fox back in 2017 at the age of 20. She began chronicling her journey online, amassing hundreds of followers along the way. She eventually peaked at 2.4 million YouTube subscribers and over 500,000 on Instagram.
“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," Ethan said. “She was never in it for fame money or personal gain. She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.”
He also revealed that Mikayla Raines was struggling with mental health issues, including depression and borderline personality disorder.
“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.” He went on, “She was so sensitive to everything, which is a double-edged sword because 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 claimed Mikayla Raines was hit with an alleged “online bullying campaign” from scores of online users, including those who didn't know her, as well as fellow wildlife rescue community members.
“They consistently spread ridiculous claims and rumours and being the sensitive human that she was, Mikayla took it all to heart. And it hurt her. It her a lot,” he said.
He lauded his wife for pushing through it and continuing on her endeavor to help the animals. However, when her close friends allegedly began bullying her, she couldn't take it and decided to end her own life, he claimed.
Upon finding her lifeless body, he tried to perform CPR while the first responders rushed home, to no avail. He has since vowed to continue his late wife's work and rescue 500 foxes as he can from fur farms.
“We have suffered a loss that is unimaginable. Mikayla was truly the most amazing and inspiring individual I have ever known, and not having her here makes everything feel empty. I feel broken. But I will continue her dream, and I hope to have your support going forward so that we can do good in her name, ” the caption read.
Live Mint has reported that Mikayla Raines' love for animals began when she volunteered with a wildlife rehabilitator at the age of 15. At the time, she “bottle-fed and raised” her first fox, which she found drowning. She soon launched her fox-rescuing organization, which has since become the nation's largest fox rescue operation.
“It was in discovering the need for these domestic foxes to have a place to go when met with uncertain situations that I founded SaveAFox Rescue, which has been operating since 2017. To date, we have rescued approximately 150 foxes from certain death," she penned on her website back in 2019, the outlet has reported.
Ethan ended his video by asking everyone to grant his family privacy before adding that he will one day reveal his wife's resting location for everyone to come and pay their respects. Mikayla Raines leaves behind her husband and their daughter, Freya.
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