Mikayla Raines

Mikayla Raines was born on March 5, 1995, in Burnsville, Minnesota. She was raised in Lakeville, Minnesota, on a rural property owned by her mother, who was an active wildlife rehabilitator. Mikayla was close to animals at an early age and would follow her mother to wildlife rehabilitation classes. She bottle-fed her first fox at the age of 15, which was a life-changing experience for her. Being exposed to wildlife rehabilitation and animal care early on paved the way for the rest of her life's work as an activist and rescuer. 

Personal Life 

Mikayla was married to Ethan Frankamp (also known as Ethan Raines), who played a critical role in supporting her rescue work by doing public communications and video editing. They had a daughter, Freya, who brought joy and grounding to Mikayla's life. The family lived in Faribault, Minnesota, where the primary sanctuary was located. 

Balancing rescue activities, family life, and the demands of public advocacy was complicated, especially with Mikayla's own issues with mental health. Ethan's presence was a welcome boost to her personal and professional endeavors. Following the sudden death of Mikayla in 2025, Ethan committed to carrying on the mission of Save A Fox Rescue so that her legacy would not die. 

Animal Rescue and Save A Fox 

Mikayla founded Save A Fox Rescue in 2017, a nonprofit rescue that works to rescue and rehabilitate foxes from fur farms and irresponsible owners. Under Mikayla's care, the rescue rehomed and rescued hundreds of foxes, many of whom were taken from abusive environments. One of the most notable rescues involved the removal of an estimated 400 foxes from an Iowa fur farm, a costly but groundbreaking effort that drew critical attention. The rescue later expanded to offer care for other exotic animals, such as jackals, birds, reptiles, sheep, and squirrels. 

Despite regulatory hurdles, including the revocation of permits in her home state, Mikayla moved forward to fundraise tens of thousands of dollars to establish larger, fully licensed sanctuaries in Minnesota and Florida. Mikayla also worked with fur farmers who legally released foxes, pursuing practical answers to the reduction of animal suffering. Mikayla's in-depth knowledge of fox behavior and rehabilitation enabled her to provide expert care, including bottle-feeding orphaned kits and creating enriched habitats.

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Digital Influence and Education 

Mikayla leveraged social media to amplify her rescue efforts, especially on her YouTube channel, which amassed over 2.4 million subscribers. Her videos documented fox rescues, educational content regarding exotic animal care, and the daily activities at the sanctuary, establishing a large, engaged community of followers from all over the world. Through the internet, Mikayla educated viewers on the challenges and ethical concerns of keeping foxes as pets while advocating for humane treatment of all animals. 

She also actively maintained an Instagram account with hundreds of thousands of followers, which she utilized as a platform to share updates and rally community support. The crossroads of rescue work and social media storytelling earned her features in prominent media outlets such as National Geographic, CBS, and People, which helped advance the dialogue on wildlife wellness and sanctuaries.

Mental Health and Personal Challenges 

Mikayla was also forthcoming about her struggles with mental illness, freely talking about her diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and depression. These disorders characterized both her strengths and weaknesses, how she related to the world, and how she managed stress. Despite ongoing therapy and treatment, Mikayla was troubled by intense emotional pain, which was exacerbated by ongoing cyberbullying and harassment. 

She was harassed by strangers online, individuals from the animal rescue group who were opposed to her, and even a few of her once-close friends, enduring false gossip and relentless negative harassment. This online harassment was instrumental in causing feelings of isolation and hopelessness. Her husband, Ethan, later revealed that the toxic environment of online harassment was a major factor in Mikayla's decision to take her own life, highlighting the severe consequences of cyberbullying on mental health. 

Cause of Death 

Mikayla was found dead in the barn on her Faribault property on June 20, 2025, at the age of 29. The manner of death, as per the medical examiner's official report, was suicide by hanging. The online and rescue communities were devastated by this tragic event. The causes of her death were the pressures of her mental illnesses, autism, depression, and borderline personality disorder, and the constant cyberbullying she had to endure. 

Strangers, friends, and colleagues took part in online harassment that had a devastating impact on her mental well-being. Her husband explained how Mikayla "felt like the whole world was against her," highlighting the urgent need for kindness and compassion, especially towards those in the public eye. 

Legacy 

Mikayla Raines' life and work left an enduring legacy of kindness, rescue, and advocacy. Through Save A Fox Rescue, she saved thousands of foxes and other animals from neglect and abuse. Her social media profiles and YouTube channel inspired millions of individuals all over the world, educating them about animal welfare and the uniqueness of foxes. Mikayla's openness about her mental illness struggles brought further awareness to autism, borderline personality disorder, and depression. 

Her premature passing was a catalyst for meaningful conversations regarding cyberbullying and mental health concerns for public figures and activists. Under her vision, her husband continues to operate the rescue foundation so that Mikayla's mission of protecting vulnerable animals and preaching empathy lives on.

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