My 6 month old Merauke scared to death 1st time outside

[Snowysmom]

Hi guys. Still having all new experiences with my 6 month old Merauke and need a little help please. Yesterday was her first time outside and thought that getting used to standing on my porch would be a good start. I held her to look around and I live on a busy street so the cars were going by and birds were chirping franticly. She immediately darted under my shirt, over my shoulder and froze there for the 10 minutes we were out. Looked like she was holding her breath and She was acting very frightened. Then she peed on me and hasn't done that in 5 months since she was a baby. What is the best way to get her used to going out? I thought a few minutes each day on the porch would be it and on the weekends maybe take her to a quiet park she could run in grass. Thanks for your help.

[Susann]

If you give her a place to hide where she can be looking out while feeling a bit more safe, maybe place a box on the grass where she can feel the grass underneath her but still be covered while looking out at the world, with you sitting close by. Being outside can feel to a captive lizard what I imagine you or I might feel if thrown into a shark tank at feeding time, like an absolute worst nightmare where you expect something to swoop by and eat you at any moment.
For some of mine that aren't too flighty, I'll sit down and make a space under my knees for the skink to hang out until he feels a bit more comfortable and starts trying to burrow in the grass.
Most skinks though will always try to dash to whatever cover they can find; being out in the open is not a pleasant experience for some skinks. Some do learn to enjoy it, but far from all --unless they can explore while being covered.

[Snowysmom]

Thank you Susann. Your post helps me a lot. I understand how scary it was for her, but didn't even think about when getting her used to be outside, being under cover is key.

[Angcious]

Mine would be fine if she never went outside. If I'm holding her in my arms, she'll be ok and sniff the air, look around...she seems curious but I can tell she's a little tense and cautious also. But when I put her on the ground, for about 2 minutes she'll just stand still but then she wants to go off and hide or try to climb back on me, you can tell she's scared. She's gone out several times now and although she'll tolerate it in my arms, I don't think she gets anything out of it. Ironically though, after she's been out and I go to put her back in her cage, she usually turns right around and stands at the door like she wants me to take her back out again! Or maybe she figures after what I put her through, I'm sure to give her a treat or food afterwards.
But yet when she's inside, she'll sit at the window or look out the screen door for a few minutes and seems quite curious about the outside.