The Beavers Are Back—and This Time, They're on HBO
John Oliver takes another swipe at Buc-ee’s, gives Beavercreek’s Famous Beavers the spotlight—and Dayton Local was there to help
John Oliver loves our beavers. And he has thoughts about Buc-ee’s
Beavercreek got another unexpected moment in the national spotlight Sunday night when John Oliver returned to the ongoing Buc-ee’s trademark controversy on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. And this time, not only did Oliver go all-in on Beavercreek—Dayton Local was there to help
A couple of days ago, Dayton Local got a call from the team at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, asking for permission to use some of our photographs on the popular HBO show. We were happy to oblige.
The HBO host's follow-up segment revisited Buc-ee’s recent legal battles with small businesses, this time including Beaver’s Mini Mart, the local store right here in Beavercreek that has found itself at the center of a trademark dispute with the Texas-based travel center chain.
Oliver began the segment by questioning Buc-ee’s claim that Beaver’s Mini Mart's beaver logo could cause confusion among consumers.
“There is no way anyone is confusing their local convenience store with a gasoline Valhalla twenty minutes away by car,” Oliver joked.
Oliver spent much of the segment highlighting the way Beavercreek residents and businesses have rallied around the mini-mart, pointing out something that has become central to the local backlash: that Beaver’s Mini Mart is, after all, in Beavercreek.
“And on top of all of that, the mini-mart is literally in a place called Beavercreek,” Oliver said. “So it's frankly no wonder residents there are pissed!”
He pointed to the city's long history of beaver-themed names and imagery, including Beavercreek Pizza Dive, Beaver-Vu Bowl and the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival (coming up September 12/13!).
Bucky the Beaver, the mascot of Beavercreek High School, also got a shout-out.
He then showcased the fiberglass beaver statues scattered throughout the community.
Among those featured in the segment were Dayton Local's photographs of Dr. B. Verr, the Air Force Beaver, Disco Beaver and Lady Justice Beaver—all originally published in our recent article, “Meet Beavercreek’s Famous Beavers.”
Oliver offered his own commentary on the relationship between Lady Justice Beaver and Disco Beaver.
“She and the Disco Beaver are hooking up, by the way,” he joked. “Though you didn't hear it from me.”
The segment also highlighted local businesses that have embraced the moment by incorporating beaver-inspired imagery into their own branding.
Oliver seemed particularly taken with the “Blueberry Beaver” created by The Blue Berry Cafe.
See the Blueberry Cafe post
He also gave a shout-out to Cake, Hope & Love and its solidarity cookies bearing the message “Shop local, protect your beaver.”
See the Cake, Hope & Love post
“That’s a solid message no matter the legal landscape,” Oliver quipped.
But beneath the jokes, Oliver clearly admired our community's response.
“I love how protective of the mini-mart the local community is,” he said, describing Beavercreek as having mobilized “the most passionate and dedicated community of beaver fans on Planet Earth.”
Oliver also provided an update on his own battle with Buc-ee’s.
Following his original July segment about the company's history of trademark litigation, Oliver launched a parody merchandise store called Buc-Off, featuring his cartoon squirrel mascot, Mr. Nutterbutter. Proceeds benefit Hunger Free America. Oliver said the Buc-Off store has now raised nearly half a million dollars for the nonprofit.
Inspired by Olivers Buc-Off campaign, Dayton Local plans to donate the licensing fee for our photographs from Last Week Tonight to Feed the Creek, a local Beavercreek nonprofit that provides food to children in need on the weekends. Given the connection to the segment, it seems like a fitting place for the money to go. We just hope that since they also have a beaver in their logo, they won't have to use it as a legal defense fund.
Oliver said the plan had been to eventually close the Buc-Off store, but he's since changed his mind.
“As long as Buc-ee’s is suing that mini-mart,” he said, “it is staying f* open.”
Apparently, the beaver wars aren't over yet.
Season 13, Episode 20 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver aired August 9, 2026
GoFundMe: Help Save Beaver’s Mini Mart
Original story: Battle of the Beavers: Beavercreek Community Rallies Behind Local Carryout
Related: Meet Beavercreek's Famous Beavers
