The Lock Keeper

As I was walking up the towpath beside the River Soar Navigation at Kegworth, I came up to the Kegworth Deep Lock and found this fox on the other side of the navigation.  As I walked the length of the lock on the towpath, the fox walked the length of the lock on the other side.  As I walked back again, the fox walked back again.  Here he seems to be keeping a lookout for approaching boats.

Is he the new self-appointed lock keeper?