This paper proposes a tracking-based target locating algorithm to locate a target moving in a geographical region under the surveillance of a wireless sensor network. This algorithm first finds a sensor node that has detected the target, and then uses local messages between neighboring nodes to track the trail of the target. The authors implement this algorithm and compare it with an optimized flood-based target locating algorithm. Simulation results show that this algorithm effectively reduces the message transmission, conserves energy and consequently enhances the practicability of resource-limited wireless sensor networks. This paper proposes a tracking-based target locating algorithm to locate a target moving in a geographical region under the surveillance of a wireless sensor network. This algorithm first finds a sensor node that has detected the target, and then uses local messages between neighboring nodes to track the trail of the target. The authors implement this algorithm and compare it with an optimized flood-based target locating algorithm. Simulation results show that this algorithm effectively reduces the message transmission, conserves energy and enhances the practicability of resource-limited wireless sensor networks.