Discover how Mikayla Raines turned SaveAFox into a viral sensation while rescuing exotic foxes and inspiring millions in 2025 .
In a world where social media influencers have a tendency to use their influence for about as much good as a screen door on a submarine, few influencers are using their influence for good like Mikayla Raines, founder of SaveAFox Rescue. Mikayla’s one-dog mission to save one domestic fox exploded into one of the most beloved, viral animal rescue stories on TikTok and Instagram. Now, moving into 2025, Mikayla Raines is not just a fox-loving content creator. She is a wildlife rescue mogul, a voice for misunderstood animals, and a Gen Z icon for compassionate conservation.
In her videos (which feature rescued foxes playing, cuddling, and “talking” to her), Mikayla has amassed millions of people watching her and more than likely blowing their minds at the cuteness level. But behind each cute clip is a huge story of activism, healing, and a woman changing the perception surrounding exotic/ pet ownership America.
Mikayla Raines age
When Mikayla Raines passed she was 29 years old. Mikayla was born on March 5th 1996.she tragically died by suicide on June 23, 2025..
From Vet Tech to Viral Star: Mikayla’s Early Journey
Mikayla’s love of animals started at a young age. Raised in Minnesota, she was fascinated by wildlife and started spending her teen years volunteering at animal shelters and sanctuaries. After being trained as a vet tech, she started seeing firsthand the dark side of exotic animal ownership. Namely, how animals like foxes are bred in captivity then surrendered or abandoned when they no longer become domestic or “wild” enough for domestic life.
In 2017, she launched SaveAFox Rescue, the first of its kind in the U.S., directly devoted to saving domestic-born foxes from fur farms, failed adoptions, and abuse. But it wasn’t until TikTok took off during the pandemic that Mikayla’s mission was able to reach millions.
The TikTok Boom: Foxes Go Viral
In 2020, one of Mikayla’s videos, featuring her letting a fox named Finnegan run free in a play area while Finnegan joyfully leaps onto Mikayla’s chest went mega-viral. Since then, her videos have received over 500 million views across platforms.
What’s her secret? Authenticity and heart
Mikayla does not glamorize wildlife; she shows viewers the reality of caring for a fox—the mess, their moods, and the deep emotional moments. She both educates and entertains.
Finnegan, Dixie, Vixie, and Miko, have become internet personalities as well, receiving fan mail, gifts, art, and monetary donations from all corners of the globe. Each fox has a story to tell— some were saved, some were surrendered by owners who didn’t understand their needs. In her own way, Mikayla makes a personal connection to the foxes and is unforgettable.
SaveAFox in 2025: A Rescue Empire
Fast forward to 2025, and Mikayla isn’t just running a rescue. She’s created an empire for rescued foxes.
SaveAFox headquarters (HQ) now located in rural Minnesota, sits on over 15 acres, and houses dozens of foxes, raccoons, mink and even a few wolves that have been rescued from illegal breeders.
A second site in Oregon opened, in early 2025, that focused on educating and rehabilitating all types of rescues on the West Coast.
Her nonprofit has over 20 employees including wildlife specialists, veterinary techs, office staff and social media managers.
In March of 2025, Mikayla launched the “Wild Hearts” program, providing emotional therapy to teens with fox interactions.
And yes, she still posts every day and even live feeds feeding the foxes or meeting new rescues or celebrating one of the fan-favorite fox’s birthdays.
Fighting for Foxes: The Advocacy Work and Legal Change
Beyond content, Mikayla has become a powerful voice when it comes to exotic animal legislation. She has testified to the Minnesota State Legislature to get fur farming, and unethical exotic breeding banned.
In 2024, she worked on, and contributed, to the Minnesota Ethical Animal Act, banning the private ownership of several species that are wild-born and establishing state funded sanctuaries to ethically move those animals into. Mikayla referred to that moment in time as “the proudest moment of my life.
She’s also been an outspoken critic of TikTok trends that singer exotic pets in an uncontextualized way. “They see a cute animal and want one, not knowing all the heartache and trauma the animal endures when it can’t thrive in a home.
The Emotional Toll: Burnout and Mental Health
Although Mikayla’s brand is all about the love and laughter of rescue work, she is honest about the heavy emotional toll of rescue work. “You see a lot of animals die. A lot of humans fail them. It can be a lot.”
In 2023, she took a 6-week break from social media to take care of her mental health. Fans’ responses were overwhelmingly supportive, and this led her to start FoxTales Therapy, a mental wellness initiative aimed at animal rescuers and activists.
“Compassion fatigue is real,” she said in a YouTube Q&A. “We have to take care of caregivers, too.”
Going Global: SaveAFox Becomes International
In 2025, Mikayla’s dream for the opportunity to rescue foxes around the world, began to take shape and form. She has partnered with wildlife sanctuaries in Canada and Japan to form an International Fox Rescue Coalition and hopes it can create stricter International trade laws for fur and exotic pets.
Mikayla Raines has released her documentary series, Tails of Rescue, on Netflix, which shows some behind-the-scenes footage of rescues, advocacy, and the healing power of the bond between human and animal.
What comes next for Mikayla Raines?
She has teased a children’s book series based on the real-life experiences of Finnegan and Dixie and is working on a SaveAFox education app based on AR technology for kids so they are able to get a chance to interact with virtual foxes while learning about wildlife. She also stated in a recent podcast interview that her biggest goal is not the likes or follows, it is to change minds.
“I want kids to grow up with the knowledge that wild animals don’t belong in cages, and that compassion is not weakness, it is strength.”
Final Thoughts: A Heart with a Tail
Mikayla Raines didn’t succeed at going viral, she succeeded in changing the world. In 2025 she isn’t just saving foxes, she is saving an entire generation of animals.
FAQs
Can I adopt a fox through SaveAFox?
A: No, SaveAFox does not place foxes for adoption with the public. They are considered non-releasable and will remain in sanctuary care indefinitely.
Are foxes legal to have as pets?
A: Laws vary by state for fox ownership. However, most wildlife experts will urge you not to consider a fox as a pet since they are much more complex than cats and dogs.
How can I support Mikayla’s work?
A: You can support Mikayla by donating through SaveAFox’s official site, buying merchandise or becoming a patreon supporter. Shares and engagement on social media also help tremendously!
Where is SaveAFox located?
A: The main sanctuary is located in central MN and there is a second facility scheduled to open in Oregon in 2025.
Do the foxes really laugh?
A: Yes, foxes do laugh! They have a special vocalizing sound called a “gekkering” sound which can sound like laughing – especially when they are happy or playing.