Latest news with #SaveAFox
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
Mikayla Raines, Who Rescued Foxes and Other Animals, Is Dead at 30
Mikayla Raines, who accumulated millions of followers on social media for her work in rescuing and championing foxes and other animals, died on June 20 at her home in Faribault, Minn. She was 30. Her husband, Ethan Frankcamp, said the cause of death was suicide. He said Ms. Mikayla had struggled with mental health issues and had experienced some bullying on social media. Ms. Raines grew up under the wing of her mother, who worked in wildlife rehabilitation. She founded Save a Fox Rescue, a nonprofit sanctuary dedicated to rescuing foxes born in captivity, in 2017. Her work had become so popular that she had 2.4 million followers on YouTube. She rehabbed foxes and found them adoptive homes. Many were from so-called fur farms, where animals are bred for their pelts and live in tiny wire cages, unable to move about freely or sometimes even to sit up. Other foxes she rescued were surrendered by owners who found it difficult to care for them. Still others were seized by authorities after having been kept illegally. Ms. Raines's organization rescued some 150 foxes from 'certain death,' she wrote in an undated post on the Save a Fox website. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Husband of Mikayla Raines says she struggled with online bullying before her death: "I do hope there's accountability"
Less than a week after Save A Fox rescue founder Mikayla Raines died by suicide, her husband, Ethan Frankamp, is speaking out and sharing his grief. "I'm going to be honest – I don't have any words to describe it. It's definitely been the hardest week of my life, for sure," Frankamp said. Frankamp says he discovered Raines Friday morning. Despite efforts to save her life with CPR, she died. Raines leaves behind a young daughter. "It's been really difficult trying to watch (our daughter) comprehend what's going on," Frankamp said. "Because she doesn't know. And I can't explain it to her. I don't have the words to explain it to her. Just trying to explain it to her that mommy's gone. Frankamp reiterated Thursday that Raines had struggled with online bullying, including from people close to her. He says that, paired with recent levels of increasing stress, could be overwhelming. "There's a bunch of different places where this just kind of all adds up," he said. "And even though she would always see so many positive comments on stuff she was doing, she took the negative ones very personally. The Rice County Sheriff's Office says the investigation into Raines' death is still open. Frankamp says he would hope to see some sort of accountability for the people commenting hatred online. "I do hope there's accountability. Not just from a legal aspect, or a criminal aspect, but just if the people that did this can have the time to self-reflect on what they've said and what they've done. And how just a simple comment online can be such a personal thing online to someone that's reading it," Frankamp said. Raines founded Save A Fox in Lakeville, Minnesota, in 2017, and was soon at odds with the city council for violating her permit by taking in more than twice the number of foxes allowed and by expanding the fencing on her property, according to city officials. "Ninety percent of the foxes that come through here are getting re-homed," she told WCCO in 2017. "I consider them my family." Despite her permit loss, she received $60,000 in donations in just three months, leading her to open a bigger operation near Faribault in Rice County. Mikayla Raines told WCCO she began caring for animals as a teenager, first taking in a fox when she was 19. "These foxes need a place to go, so I want to make that happen," she said in 2019. "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to do that." If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@ contributed to this report.
Daily Telegraph
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
YouTube star and animal activist Mikayla Raines dies aged 29
Don't miss out on the headlines from Real Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. A popular YouTube star and passionate animal rights activist has died by suicide after being bullied online, her heartbroken husband has revealed. Mikayla Raines, a content creator and founder of a fox rescue centre in the US, was the victim of an 'online bullying campaign' from people she knew, her husband Ethan Frankamp said in a heartbreaking YouTube video. Mikayla Raines was YouTube star and animal rights activist. The 29-year-old, who began working in wildlife rehabilitation when she was 15, was also a mum to a baby daughter. Frankamp said his wife had complex mental health challenges and claimed the criticism she was receiving online caused her mental health to deteriorate. 'She felt as if the entire world had turned against her,' he shared. 'She has always battled with borderline personality disorder, causing emotional instability as well as impulsive behaviours, but this time it went too far.' Frankamp added that his wife also had autism and struggled with depression. Raines had a real passion for animals and established her non-profit centre Save A Fox, which rescues and rehabilitates foxes and other exotic animals, at 20. 'From a young age she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them [animals], whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm,' her husband said. Mikayla Raines was YouTube star and animal rights activist. 'She was never in it for fame, money or personal gain. 'She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.' The Save A Fox YouTube channel boasts 2.45 million subscribers and Raines had 500,000 followers on Instagram. Frankamp ended the tearful video by telling critics spreading 'garbage' rumours to 'shut up' — and urged people feeling 'lost and hopeless' to reach out to a loved one or call a hotline for help. '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 and I won't let negativity win,' he added. Frankamp's announcement of the Minnesota mother's death came one day after he posted a sweet video of Raines smiling after she rescued a lemur. Frankamp said he 'will do whatever I can' to continue the work at Save A Fox. This story originally appeared on the New York Post and reproduced with permission Originally published as YouTube star and animal activist Mikayla Raines dies aged 29
Mint
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Overwatch 2 players pay tribute to Mikayla Raines who died by suicide
The Overwatch 2 community is mourning the death of YouTuber Mikayla Raines. The news was confirmed by her husband, Ethan Raines. Ethan, on June 23, uploaded a video to YouTube channel explaining that his wife had taken her life after being harassed online. He said, 'They consistently spread ridiculous claims and rumors, and being the sensitive human that she was, Mikayla took it all to heart, adding it hurt her a lot. For years, she pushed through the pain of people trying to bring her down. But this time, it went too far.' Mikayla Raines had launched Save A Fox Rescue in 2017, an animal rescue nonprofit based in Lakeville, Minnesota, when she was just 20 years old. The organisation focuses on saving foxes from fur farms and finding them permanent homes and, as per its website, has rescued over 150 foxes. The internet has been paying tribute to Raines on her tragic demise. Shortly after news of Raines' death, the Overwatch 2 community had their attention turned to a 2024 Facebook post from SaveAFox. 'Did you know that in Overwatch 2, Kiriko's fox spirit features the sounds of your favorite SaveAFox foxes?' they said. The resurgence of this post took the OW2 fandom by storm, with many learning about Mikayla and her story. 'This news hit me like a truck. I didn't know her foxes voiced the Kitsune, my heart broke even more now. I'd like to think she found peace that the people that pushed her into this decision will never find,' someone else chimed in. So far, Blizzard has yet to address Raines' death, and it's unclear if they plan to add an in-game item as tribute to her. Mikayla Raines was a YouTuber who founded SaveAFox Rescue. According to reports, Mikayla Raines took her life after prolonged online harassment. SaveAFox Rescue is an animal rescue nonprofit based in Lakeville, Minnesota, that was founded by Mikayla Raines in 2017.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
YouTube star and animal activist Mikayla Raines dies aged 29
A popular YouTube star and passionate animal rights activist has died by suicide after being bullied online, her heartbroken husband has revealed. Mikayla Raines, a content creator and founder of a fox rescue centre in the US, was the victim of an 'online bullying campaign' from people she knew, her husband Ethan Frankamp said in a heartbreaking YouTube video. The 29-year-old, who began working in wildlife rehabilitation when she was 15, was also a mum to a baby daughter. Frankamp said his wife had complex mental health challenges and claimed the criticism she was receiving online caused her mental health to deteriorate. 'She felt as if the entire world had turned against her,' he shared. 'She has always battled with borderline personality disorder, causing emotional instability as well as impulsive behaviours, but this time it went too far.' Frankamp added that his wife also had autism and struggled with depression. Raines had a real passion for animals and established her non-profit centre Save A Fox, which rescues and rehabilitates foxes and other exotic animals, at 20. 'From a young age she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them [animals], whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm,' her husband 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.' The Save A Fox YouTube channel boasts 2.45 million subscribers and Raines had 500,000 followers on Instagram. Frankamp ended the tearful video by telling critics spreading 'garbage' rumours to 'shut up' — and urged people feeling 'lost and hopeless' to reach out to a loved one or call a hotline for help. '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 and I won't let negativity win,' he added. Frankamp's announcement of the Minnesota mother's death came one day after he posted a sweet video of Raines smiling after she rescued a lemur. Frankamp said he 'will do whatever I can' to continue the work at Save A Fox.
